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Rangers-Red Sox Preview

Jul 14, 2010 - 4:25 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Texas (50-38) at Boston (51-37), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Boston Red Sox were one game better than the Texas Rangers before the All-Star break, but they don't feel nearly as good about their situation as the teams begin the second half at Fenway Park.

The Rangers are still comfortably atop the AL West despite losing their last four games, while the Red Sox occupy third place in the AL East and remain without several key players as they open a four-game set with Texas on Thursday night.

With a 4 1/2-game lead, Texas (50-38) is in position to win the division for the first time since 1999 despite getting swept in four games at home by Baltimore last weekend.

Manager Ron Washington was upbeat following Sunday's 4-1 loss, during which the Rangers went 0 for 8 with men in scoring position and stranded 10 runners.

"We're in first place. There's no need for us to be sad," Washington said. "We just have to come out of the break and hold on to it."

Boston (51-37) trails New York by five games and Tampa Bay by three. The Red Sox, though, may be grateful they're even in the race following their first losing April since 1996 and a series of injuries to important players.

All-Stars Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez and Clay Buchholz are on the disabled list, joining right-hander Josh Beckett, catcher Jason Varitek and outfielders Jeremy Hermida and Jacoby Ellsbury.

"I know it's not perfect, I recognize that, but the level of intensity and trying to do the right thing has been off the charts," manager Terry Francona told the Red Sox's official website. "It's been a challenge, but one that I think we've all kind of enjoyed. ... Our job is to win with what we have."

One reason the Red Sox have stayed afloat has been the resurgence of David Ortiz, who won the Home Run Derby in Anaheim on Monday night. He hit .143 with one home run in April but is batting .297 with 17 homers and 53 RBIs in 58 games since.

Boston leads the majors with 481 runs - 28 more than the Rangers, who rank third on the strength of productive seasons by All-Stars Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guerrero. Hamilton is challenging for a batting title with a .346 average, while Guerrero is second in the majors with 75 RBIs.

The powerful lineups could create problems for both of Thursday's starting pitchers - especially Boston's Tim Wakefield, who has gone 2-5 with a 5.96 ERA in his last eight starts.

Wakefield (3-7, 5.22 ERA) also has a 6.09 ERA in 34 outings versus Texas, and Guerrero has gone 10 for 23 with five homers and 10 walks against him.

Red Sox catcher Kevin Cash figures to face a major challenge in controlling Rangers baserunners. Texas stole nine bases - three each by Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz - while scoring six runs against Wakefield during Boston's 7-6 win April 20.

"I was just concentrating on throwing strikes and wasn't keeping an eye on the running game, which showed," Wakefield said.

Tommy Hunter (5-0, 2.34) takes the ball for Texas looking to post a seventh quality start in eight outings, but he has bad memories from his only previous visit to Fenway.

The Red Sox scored nine runs in the second inning of a 10-0 win over Hunter and the Rangers on Aug. 14, 2008, with Ortiz hitting a three-run homer off the then-22-year-old right-hander. That was one of 11 losses for Texas in its last 14 games at Boston.