ARLINGTON, Texas -- Josh Hamilton is feeling the love again in Texas.

The former American League MVP, who helped the Rangers make back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011 before leaving after the 2012 season for a richer contract with the Los Angeles Angels, hit two home runs to pace Texas to a 7-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Globe Life Field.

It was just Hamilton's fifth game back with the Rangers and his second at his old stomping ground in North Texas. Fans who booed him out of town a couple years ago, cheered his return Thursday night and Friday, twice gave him standing ovations as he rounded the bases after solo homers in the second and fourth innings.

"I said it my first day back here at the press conference, I feel like I can be the player I used to be. I believe that," said Hamilton, who had two hits in Thursday's loss to Boston. "It's fun to do things the fans have seen before. It's been fun the last couple of days."

His line-drive shot in the fourth off knuckleball-throwing Red Sox starter Steven Wright -- almost an identical rocket to the one he put in the seats in his first at-bat -- moved Texas back in front after the Red Sox had tied it at 2-2 in the top of the inning.

"If we face another knuckleballer, I'm going to make sure he's in the game," Rangers manager Jeff Bannister said smiling. "Josh is so quick with the bat. He didn't try to do too much. He put a good swing on it."

Wright (2-2) wouldn't get a chance to pitch to Hamilton a third time. With two out in the bottom of the sixth inning and Rangers runners on the corners, Red Sox manager John Farrell pulled Wright for left-handed reliever Tommy Layne who got the lefty-swinging Hamilton to ground out to keep it a one-run game.

"With the exception of a couple of knuckleballs that drifted up to Hamilton, I thought he pitched well," Farrell said of Wright. "He kept things under control. He kept us in the ballgame for sure."

Texas changed that with a pair of runs in the seventh for a 5-2 lead. Shortstop Hanser Alberto notched his first career hit in his major league debut, belting a two-out triple to the left-center field gap to score catcher Robinson Chirinos. Alberto came home on center fielder Leonys Martin's ground single up the middle.

Red Sox cleanup hitter Hanley Ramirez made it 5-4 with a two-run homer in the top of the eighth, an inning that saw both Boston first baseman Mike Napoli and Farrell get ejected by home plate umpire Todd Tichenor. Napoli didn't appreciate being called out on strikes and was tossed while arguing from the dugout. Farrell came out for a few choice words and Tinchenor wasted little time before sending the Boston manager to the showers.

"There were a number of fastballs we felt were off the plate and away," Farrell said. "I felt like he was giving a number of pitches that were not strikes that were called strikes."

In the bottom of the inning, Texas picked up two insurance runs on a Robinson Chirinos two-out double off Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes, the fourth Boston reliever of the game. The rally was set up by Hamilton working a two-out walk followed by a single from first baseman Mitch Moreland.

Rangers starter Yovani Gallardo (5-6) pitched six strong innings to earn the win, holding the Red Sox to four hits while walking three and striking out five. Gallardo surrendered three or fewer runs for the ninth time in his last 10 starts.

Texas snapped a two-game skid while winning at home for just the seventh time in 21 games.

Rangers reliever Shawn Tolleson pitched a perfect ninth and made it 6-for-6 in the save department since taking over the closer role from Neftali Feliz

NOTES: The Rangers will add RHP Alex Rodriguez to the 40-man roster, and he will start on Saturday against Boston. Gonzalez, 23, was the team's first-round draft choice in 2013. ...