Final
Road Warriors: Rangers eye 5-0 road start at Fenway
Apr 18, 2012 - 2:52 PM (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers try to keep their perfect road record intact this evening when they go for a sweep in their brief two-game set with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway.The Rangers ran their record to 4-0 away from home on Tuesday with an absolute beat down of the Red Sox, as Josh Hamilton blasted a mammoth home run and matched a career-high with five RBI, while Mike Napoli homered twice and knocked in four in Texas' 18-3 rout.
Elvis Andrus added three RBI, Nelson Cruz launched a two-run blast and Michael Young added a solo blast for the Rangers, who have won five in a row overall and are off to their best start since going 10-1 in 1989.
Another win tonight would also make them 5-0 for the first time since 1989, when the Rangers opened a franchise-best 6-0 away from home.
Colby Lewis (2-0) worked seven innings, allowing eight hits and two runs while fanning seven. Texas backed the right-hander with a season-high 21 hits and six home runs.
"It was one of those nights we swung the bats well," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We played good defense, we ran the bases, we pitched and we did everything that we were supposed to do."
Dustin Pedroia posted a two-run homer and Adrian Gonzalez also went deep for the Red Sox, who have dropped two in a row since starting this nine-game homestand with three straight wins.
Jon Lester (0-2) didn't make it out of the third inning, charged in defeat with eight hits and seven runs with four walks.
"It was one of those nights where I just flat-out stunk," said Lester. "When I did make the adjustment and tried to get back in the zone it wasn't good enough."
The loss was the most lopsided for Boston since a 22-1 defeat to the New York Yankees on June 19, 2000, and marked the most runs scored at Fenway by a visitor other than the Yankees since Milwaukee won 18-0 on April 16, 1990.
Tonight, the Rangers will try to provide Derek Holland with the same type of support tonight. Holland improved to 1-0 on the year on Thursday against Seattle, as he held them to two runs and five hits in 7 1/3 innings to lower his ERA to 3.38.
Holland is 2-1 in three starts against the Red Sox with a 2.95 ERA. In his last start at Fenway Holland tossed seven scoreless innings and struck out six without walking a batter.
"That was last year," said Holland. "I never look back on that. I may have had a good performance, but I can't think about that. You can't let that affect you as a pitcher."
Boston, meanwhile, will try to regroup behind righty Josh Beckett, who was impressive in his last start after a shaky season debut. Beckett evened his record at 1-1 on Friday, as he held the Tampa Bay Rays to a run and five hits in eight innings. He had surrendered seven runs in 4 2/3 frames to Detroit in his first start.
Beckett, a Texas native, has faced the Rangers eight times and is 3-2 with a 5.03 ERA. However, he has pitched to a 7.79 ERA in three career starts versus Texas at Fenway.
Texas was 6-4 versus the Red Sox last season.
- TEXAS: 6
BOSTON: 3
Final
Apr 18 10:13 PM - Pinch-Hitter Ryan Sweeney single to center scored Cody Ross with one out. On the play, Kevin Youkilis advances to third. Runners on first and third and Darnell McDonald due up.
Rangers 6, Red Sox 3 Bot 9, 1 OutApr 18 10:08 PM - Mike Napoli double to center scored Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz with one out. On the play, Craig Gentry advances to third. Runners on second and third and Mitch Moreland due up.
Rangers 6, Red Sox 2 Top 8, 1 OutApr 18 9:33 PM - Pinch-Hitter Craig Gentry was hit-by-pitch, scoring Josh Hamilton with one out. Bases loaded and Mike Napoli due up.
Rangers 4, Red Sox 2 Top 8, 1 OutApr 18 9:31 PM - Mike Napoli none-out, two-run Home Run (4) to left scored David Murphy. Mitch Moreland due up.
Rangers 3, Red Sox 2 Top 4, 0 OutsApr 18 8:14 PM - Josh Hamilton infield single to second scored Ian Kinsler with two outs. Runner on first and Adrian Beltre due up.
Rangers 1, Red Sox 2 Top 3, 2 OutsApr 18 7:58 PM - Kevin Youkilis none-out, two-run Home Run (1) to center scored David Ortiz. Kelly Shoppach due up.
Rangers 0, Red Sox 2 Bot 2, 0 OutsApr 18 7:41 PM - TEXAS: 0
BOSTON: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Apr 18 7:09 PM
Related News
- Tuesday Morning Texas Rangers Update Dec 26
- Christmas Morning Texas Rangers Update Dec 25
- OTM Open Thread 12/25: It is Monday Dec 25
- Garver to the M’s, per reports Dec 24
- Christmas Eve Rangers things Dec 24
- Saturday morning Rangers things Dec 23
- OTM Open Thread 12/23: It is Saturday Dec 23
- OTM Open Thread 12/22: It is Friday Dec 22
- LSB Offseason Community Prospect Rankings — #15 Dec 22
- Friday morning Rangers stuff Dec 22
- From Roman Gladiators to Red Sox, We’re Still Here Dec 22
- Yamamoto to Dodgers, per reports Dec 21