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Hamilton, Rangers rock Red Sox

Apr 18, 2012 - 7:21 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Josh Hamilton hit a three-run shot and drove in five runs, while Mike Napoli homered twice and knocked in four, as Texas ripped Boston, 18-3, in the opener of a two-game series from Fenway Park.

Elvis Andrus added three RBI, Nelson Cruz launched a two-run blast and Michael Young added a solo blast for the Rangers, who have won five in a row and are off to their best start since going 10-1 in 1989.

Colby Lewis (2-0) worked seven innings, allowing eight hits and two runs while fanning seven. Texas backed the right-handed with a season-high 21 hits.

"It was one of those nights we swung the bats well," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We played good defense, we ran the bases, we pitched and we did everything that we were supposed to do."

Dustin Pedroia posted a two-run homer and Adrian Gonzalez also went deep for the Red Sox, who have dropped two in a row since starting this nine-game homestand with three straight wins.

Jon Lester (0-2) didn't make it out of the third inning, charged in defeat with eight hits and seven runs with four walks.

"It was one of those nights where I just flat-out stunk," said Lester. "When I did make the adjustment and tried to get back in the zone it wasn't good enough."

Lester was yanked in the third after loading the bases with none out, but Scott Atchison gave up an RBI fielder's choice to Craig Gentry, an Andrus sacrifice fly and a run-scoring hit from Hamilton to make it 7-2.

Young's two-out solo shot in the sixth increased the Texas edge to six, then the visitors ripped the game open in an eight-run eighth.

Ian Kinsler started the frame with a double, Andrus walked, then Hamilton slammed a three-run shot to right. Adrian Beltre followed with a solo shot, then after David Murphy followed with a pinch-hit base on balls, Cruz cleared the wall in center to bring the margin to 14-2.

Pinch-hitter Alberto Gonzalez brought in a run with a groundout and Andrus doubled home Gentry to cap the burst.

Adrian Gonzalez answered with a solo homer in the home half, but Napoli hoisted a two-run blast in the ninth.

Things looked better early on for the Red Sox.

Lewis served up a leadoff single to Mike Aviles then Pedroia cranked one over the Green Monster for a 2-0 game, but Cruz hit a one-out double in the second and scored when Napoli cleared the wall in left.

Later in the frame, after two walks and a single loaded the bases, Andrus' dribbler to the mound scored one and Hamilton followed with an RBI fielder's choice.

Game Notes

For the Rangers, Tuesday marked their highest single-game home-run total since going deep six times against Detroit in August of 2008...Texas won six of 10 meetings from Boston a year ago, and has taken three of the last four matchups at Fenway...The two-time defending AL champions racked up the most runs in one regular-season game since a 19-6 victory against Baltimore on April 15, 2009...Red Sox reliever Mark Melancon faced six batters in the eighth inning and failed to record an out, spiking his ERA to 49.50...Napoli recorded his first multi-homer outing since accomplishing the feat in two straight games on September 27-28 on the road against the Angels.