Final
Rangers-Red Sox Preview
Jul 18, 2010 - 4:28 AMVideo
Texas (52-38) at Boston (51-39), 1:35 p.m. EDT
Texas failed to take advantage of an excellent opportunity to win its fourth straight against the Boston Red Sox. Against Jon Lester, the Rangers' margin for error isn't likely to get any larger.
After missing a chance to move into position for a sweep, the Rangers look to avoid becoming the seventh straight team to lose to Lester at Fenway Park as they wrap up a four-game set with the Red Sox on Sunday.
Texas (52-39) took a one-run lead into the ninth Friday night, but lost 3-2 in 11 innings. Kevin Youkilis tied it for Boston (52-39) with a double in the ninth, then won it with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly.
"He's just something else," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He just rises to the occasion."
A victory would have given the AL West-leading Rangers a chance to earn their first road sweep of the Red Sox since 1997. Instead, Texas is in danger of losing for the sixth time in eight games as it contends with one of the majors' hottest pitchers.
Lester (11-3, 2.78 ERA) continued what has been an outstanding stretch with a perfect sixth inning in the All-Star game Tuesday night. He has won six straight starts at Fenway Park, posting a 1.60 ERA.
The left-hander started the season with three shaky outings, but has since gone 11-1 with a 1.90 ERA in 15 starts. He gave up two runs while striking out six in six innings to earn a win in a 14-3 victory over Toronto on July 9.
Lester is 2-0 with a 3.55 ERA in five starts versus the Rangers.
Texas will counter with one of its top starters, C.J. Wilson (7-5, 3.35).
Wilson is 1-3 with a 3.05 ERA in seven road starts, getting three or fewer runs to work with in each outing. He didn't need much support to earn a win at Boston on April 22, tossing 6 2-3 innings in a 3-0 victory.
It was his first start against the Red Sox.
The left-hander, though, is coming off one of his worst starts, surrendering three runs and five walks in 4 2-3 innings of a 4-1 loss to Baltimore last Sunday.
Due to the quick turnaround, Wilson will likely have Matt Treanor as his batterymate instead of Bengie Molina, who went 0 for 4 after hitting for the cycle in an 8-4 win Friday night.
Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus also had a tough game at the plate, going 0 for 5 to extend his hitless streak to 26 at-bats. Andrus is 2 for 26 (.077) at Fenway Park.
Youkilis hasn't had nearly as much trouble there, going 8 for 20 with two homers and six RBIs over his last five home games. He's hitting .385 (10 for 26) in six games versus the Rangers this year.
Youkilis' latest performance gave the Red Sox their third win in 10 games and snapped a three-game home losing streak.
- Red Sox 2, Rangers 4 - FINAL
TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E Andrus ss 4 1 3 0 0 0 0 .275
M Young 3b 3 0 1 0 1 1 3 .300
I Kinsler 2b 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 .306
V Guerrero lf 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .322
D Murphy lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
J Hamilton dh 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .347
N Cruz
Jul 18 4:35 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MIKE CAMERON (4) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 0 OUT
IN THE 9TH OFF NEFTALI FELIZ.
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 4, BOSTON 2
DUE UP FOR BOSTON: B HALL (.232, 0-FOR-2, BB)
Rangers 4, Red Sox 2 Bot 9, 0 OutsJul 18 4:26 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY IAN KINSLER SCORED ELVIS ANDRUS
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, I KINSLER ON FIRST, M YOUNG ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 4
BOSTON 1 TOP,8TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: V GUERRERO (.322, 0-FOR-2, BB)
Rangers 4, Red Sox 1 Top 8, 0 OutsJul 18 3:58 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE STEAL BY JULIO BORBON SCORED JULIO BORBON
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, E ANDRUS ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 3
BOSTON 1 TOP,5TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: I KINSLER (.305, 0-FOR-2)
Rangers 3, Red Sox 1 Top 5, 0 OutsJul 18 2:53 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY ADRIAN BELTRE ALLOWED NELSON CRUZ TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 2
BOSTON 1 TOP,4TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: C DAVIS (.194, 0-FOR-1)
Rangers 2, Red Sox 1 Top 4, 0 OutsJul 18 2:36 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY NELSON CRUZ SCORED JOSH HAMILTON
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, N CRUZ ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 1
BOSTON 1 TOP,4TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: C DAVIS (.194, 0-FOR-1)
Rangers 1, Red Sox 1 Top 4, 0 OutsJul 18 2:36 PM - AL
AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY ADRIAN BELTRE SCORED KEVIN YOUKILIS
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A BELTRE ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0
BOSTON 1 BOTTOM,2ND
DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M CAMERON (.283, 3 HR, 14 RBI)
Rangers 0, Red Sox 1 Bot 2, 0 OutsJul 18 2:06 PM
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