• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Buchholz hopes to slow down Rangers bats in finale in Arlington

Apr 3, 2011 - 2:52 PM (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers try to open their season with consecutive wins this evening when they resume their season-opening three-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

The vaunted Rangers' offense picked up right where they left off last season, as pinch-hitter David Murphy's two-run double on the chalk sparked a four-run rally in the bottom of the eighth, lifting Texas to a 9-5 victory on the day they raised their first American League pennant.

"Obviously any hit in that type of situation feels great," Murphy said. "To be successful in that situation is as good of feeling as there is in the game. My first reaction was it was going to be foul, but it was staying straight instead of tailing off like it normally does. I was running and then I saw it hit chalk."

Elvis Andrus and Josh Hamilton added RBI doubles in the pivotal frame, and Neftali Feliz struck out two in a perfect ninth to cap the celebratory day.

Mike Napoli belted a three-run homer in the fourth inning that gave Texas a 5-4 lead, but Boston ended up tying it on David Ortiz's solo blast in the top of the eighth.

The see-sawing meant neither starter earned a decision, although both worked into the sixth inning.

C.J. Wilson allowed four runs -- two earned -- on six hits and two walks, striking out six in his first Opening Day start for the Rangers. Boston's Jon Lester also made his first Opening Day start, giving up five runs on six hits and a walk.

Darren Oliver (1-0) got the win despite giving up Ortiz's homer, while Daniel Bard (0-1) took the loss, giving up all four Texas runs before leaving with two outs in the bottom of eighth.

"It was a big win," said Oliver, who ended up getting the victory. "It's nice to get Opening Day over with and give the fans something to celebrate. They definitely got their money's worth. It was like a boxing match, both teams battled and battled."

Boston hasn't opened a year 0-2 since 2005.

"I think everybody wants to get off to a good start personally and as a team," said Bard. "No one wants to start this way. But I think we'll be looking at this and laughing a couple months from now."

Colby Lewis will try to keep the Rangers in the win column this evening, as he takes the hill following a successful 2010 campaign that saw him go 12-13 with a 3.72 ERA. After making a two-year stop in Japan, the 31-year-old hurler's win total was as many as he had over five undistinguished seasons in the majors before going overseas. He also placed seventh in the AL in strikeouts with 196.

Lewis was dominant for Texas in the postseason, posting a 3-0 mark to go along with a miniscule 1.71 ERA.

Hoping to slow down the Rangers tonight will be right-hander John Lackey, who endured a lackluster first season with the Red Sox, going 14-11 with a 4.40 ERA - his highest since 2004.

Lackey has struggled against the Rangers in his career, as he is 11-12 against them with a 5.74 ERA. The 12 losses are his most against any opponent and the lofty ERA is his highest against any AL club.

Texas was 6-4 against the Red Sox last season.