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Rangers dominate, Red Sox lose AL East lead

Sep 3, 2011 - 5:38 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Texas and Boston came into this three-game weekend series both in first place in their respective divisions.

That is not the case for the Red Sox after Friday's 10-0 loss to the Rangers.

The Red Sox had dropped two of three to the Yankees prior to Friday and were holding a slim half-game lead in the AL East. However, the loss to the Rangers, coupled with the Yankees' 3-2 win Friday over the Blue Jays, dropped Boston to second place.

The Rangers, meanwhile, moved to 4 1/2 games ahead of the Angels for the top spot in the AL West.

Ian Kinsler hit a three-run homer while Elvis Andrus went 2-for-2 with a two- run homer, two walks and four runs scored for the Rangers, who have won four of their last five.

Derek Holland (13-5) went seven innings and combined with two other pitchers in a two-hitter. He struck out six and didn't issue a walk to win his second straight start.

Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Gonzalez each singled to account for the only two hits for the Red Sox, who had taken three of four from the Rangers in Texas last week.

Andrew Miller (6-2) didn't fare too well in his first start since shutting out Texas for 6 1/3 innings on August 25. He lasted just 1 1/3 innings and was tagged for six runs on five hits and four walks.

An RBI single from Michael Young and a sacrifice fly from Adrian Beltre in the first inning staked the Rangers to an early lead.

The second inning saw Kinsler belt his 24th home run of the year and a bases loaded walk to Mike Napoli scored Andrus for a 6-0 lead.

"We certainly needed a game like this, where we had the bats early and we're able to relax a little bit," said Texas manager Ron Washington. "It takes some of the pressure off the pitcher when you put up a bunch of runs early in the game."

Beltre added an RBI single in the fourth while David Murphy hit a solo homer in the fifth and Andrus added a two-run shot later in the frame for a 10-0 lead.

Boston, meanwhile, didn't get a runner on base after Gonzalez's two-out single in the fourth.

"We can't make excuses for this game," said Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek. "When they got their foot on the gas pedal they just keep going and don't give you any room."

The Red Sox did get some good news on Friday as third basemen Kevin Youkilis was activated off the 15-day disabled list. He had been on the DL since August 18 with a lower back strain, but went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts on Friday.

Game Notes

Texas has won five of the eight games against Boston this season...Holland improved to 2-1 over three career starts against the Red Sox...Young has 89 RBI on the season...Holland threw 61 of his 98 pitches for strikes while Merkin Valdez and Mike Gonzalez each threw a perfect inning to cap the shutout...It was the shortest start of the season for a Red Sox starter...Boston designated hitter David Ortiz went 0-for-3 to snap his 15- game hitting streak. It was his longest streak in a Red Sox uniform while his career-high was 19 games with the Twins in 2002.