Final
Rangers-Red Sox Preview
Apr 19, 2010 - 7:55 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS WriterTexas (5-7) at Boston (4-8), 7:10 p.m. EDT
The Texas Rangers have a sputtering offense and a four-game losing streak. The Boston Red Sox's problems have been even more pronounced during their worst start in 14 years.
One of the floundering clubs will end its skid Tuesday night at Fenway Park, where both hopeful contenders try to steady themselves during a three-game set.
Boston (4-9) and Texas (5-7) finished as the top two teams in the AL wild card race last year, with the Red Sox advancing to the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons.
But both teams have endured difficult starts - especially the Red Sox, who have been outscored 32-9 during their five-game losing streak. The Tampa Bay Rays finished a four-game sweep at Boston with an 8-2 win Monday.
"It's kind of weird," catcher Victor Martinez said. "Nothing is going our way. Every team we play, it keeps falling their way."
After beating the Yankees 9-7 on opening day, the Red Sox have dropped six straight at Fenway - their longest home losing streak since a 12-game slide during June 1994.
A sixth straight defeat overall would match Boston's longest losing streak from 2009. The Red Sox, who began 2-6 last year but then won 11 in a row, are off to their worst 13-game start since they were 2-11 in 1996.
They hope Tim Wakefield (0-1, 5.11 ERA) can help, but the 43-year-old knuckleballer struggled Thursday, allowing six runs and 10 hits in 5 1-3 innings of an 8-0 loss at Minnesota.
The Rangers have traditionally caused problems for Wakefield, who is 10-15 with a 5.98 ERA against them. Texas added Vladimir Guerrero, 9 for 21 (.429) with five homers off Wakefield, in the offseason.
The Rangers need an offensive spark after totaling eight runs during their four-game slide. Ian Kinsler remains out with an ankle injury and Josh Hamilton has gone 1 for 15 in his last four games.
"We have some adjustments we need to make," infielder Michael Young told the Rangers' official website after the Yankees completed a three-game sweep with a 5-2 win Sunday.
"We've shown flashes of the team we're capable of being and we've also shown flashes that we have some things we need to work on," Young added.
One bright spot for Texas has been right-hander Colby Lewis, who has made a successful return to the majors after a two-year stint in Japan. Lewis (2-0, 2.19) struck out 10 and allowed two runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 6-2 win at Cleveland on Wednesday - the Rangers' most recent victory.
"Lewis isn't afraid to take the ball and he's not afraid to pound the strike zone," manager Ron Washington said. "He gives you everything he has."
Opponents are 0 for 11 with men in scoring position against Lewis, helping him compensate for eight walks in 12 1-3 innings. Boston has been having major problems in that area, going 0 for 30 with runners in scoring position during its losing streak.
Overall, Kevin Youkilis (.217 average), Martinez (.212), David Ortiz (.158) and J.D. Drew (.146) are among the players having offensive issues for Boston, while outfielders Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury have been dealing with injuries.
"We're going through a really tough time," manager Terry Francona said.
Boston had a difficult time against Texas in 2009, losing seven of nine after winning nine of 10 the previous year.
- Red Sox 7, Rangers 6 - FINAL
TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E Andrus ss 2 1 0 0 3 1 0 .308
M Young 3b 5 0 2 1 0 2 1 .269
J Hamilton lf 3 1 0 1 2 0 2 .205
V Guerrero dh 4 0 1 0 1 0 4 .340
N Cruz rf 4 1 2 1 1 1 0 .333
D Murphy rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .071
C Davis
Apr 20 10:57 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DARNELL MCDONALD SCORED KEVIN YOUKILIS
FINAL SCORE - BOSTON 7, TEXAS 6.
Rangers 6, Red Sox 7 Bot 9, 0 OutsApr 20 10:56 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY DARNELL MCDONALD (1) TO LEFT CENTER WITH
0 OUT IN THE 8TH OFF DARREN OLIVER SCORED JASON VARITEK.
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 6, BOSTON 6
DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M SCUTARO (.271, 0-FOR-3, HBP)
Rangers 6, Red Sox 6 Bot 8, 0 OutsApr 20 10:15 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY JOSH HAMILTON ALLOWED JEREMY HERMIDA AND VICTOR
MARTINEZ TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J REDDICK ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 6
BOSTON 4 BOTTOM,6TH
DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M SCUTARO (.277, 0-FOR-2, HBP)
Rangers 6, Red Sox 4 Bot 6, 0 OutsApr 20 9:17 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MATT TREANOR SCORED NELSON CRUZ
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M TREANOR ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 6
BOSTON 2 TOP,5TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J ARIAS (.412, 1-FOR-2)
Rangers 6, Red Sox 2 Top 5, 0 OutsApr 20 8:44 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY JEREMY HERMIDA (3) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 4TH OFF COLBY LEWIS.
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 5, BOSTON 2
DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J REDDICK (.000, 0-FOR-1)
Rangers 5, Red Sox 2 Bot 4, 0 OutsApr 20 8:35 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MICHAEL YOUNG SCORED JULIO BORBON
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, M YOUNG ON FIRST, E ANDRUS ON THIRD, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 5
BOSTON 1 TOP,4TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J HAMILTON (.214, 0-FOR-1, BB, RBI)
Rangers 5, Red Sox 1 Top 4, 0 OutsApr 20 8:26 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
WILD PITCH BY TIM WAKEFIELD ALLOWED JOAQUIN ARIAS TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J BORBON ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 4
BOSTON 1 TOP,4TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: E ANDRUS (.316, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Rangers 4, Red Sox 1 Top 4, 0 OutsApr 20 8:21 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JULIO BORBON SCORED MATT TREANOR
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J BORBON ON FIRST, J ARIAS ON THIRD, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 3
BOSTON 1 TOP,4TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: E ANDRUS (.316, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Rangers 3, Red Sox 1 Top 4, 0 OutsApr 20 8:19 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY JOSH HAMILTON SCORED ELVIS ANDRUS
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 2
BOSTON 1 TOP,3RD
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: V GUERRERO (.362, 1-FOR-1)
Rangers 2, Red Sox 1 Top 3, 0 OutsApr 20 8:00 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY VICTOR MARTINEZ SCORED J.D. DREW
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, V MARTINEZ ON FIRST, K YOUKILIS ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 1
BOSTON 1 BOTTOM,1ST
DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D ORTIZ (.158, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
Rangers 1, Red Sox 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsApr 20 7:31 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TEXAS 1 1 2 0
BOSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1)
CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - COLBY LEWIS
BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M SCUTARO (.289, 1 HR, 3 RBI)
J DREW (.146, 1 HR, 2 RBI)
D PEDROIA (.346, 5 HR, 13 RBI)
Rangers 1, Red Sox 0 Bot 1, 0 OutsApr 20 7:18 PM
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