Red Sox 3 - 4 Rangers
Final
  for this game

Rangers aim for home series win over Red Sox

May 31, 2015 - 1:55 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Texas Rangers will try to notch their first home series win of the season as they conclude a four-game set with the Boston Red Sox in Arlington on Sunday.

After falling to Boston in the series opener, Texas defeated the visitors, 7-4, on Friday and coasted to an 8-0 decision last night to put itself in position to win a home series.

Rookie pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez impressed in his MLB debut for the Rangers on Saturday, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning before being relieved. Leonys Martin, Robinson Chirinos and Hanser Alberto each drove in two runs, while Adam Rosales was 4-for-4 with two runs scored for Texas, which went 5- for-15 with runners in scoring position.

Gonzalez tossed 5 2/3 no-hit innings to start his Major League career, the most hitless innings by a Rangers pitcher in his debut since Roger Pavlik tossed 5 1/3 no-hit innings in Chicago on May 2, 1992.

Boston manager John Farrell was not pleased with his team's effort versus the rookie.

"Offensively against a first-time starter, you don't take anything away from him, you don't take anything for granted," Farrell said. "We got into some hitter's counts, and he had some action where he put some balls into the ground, but still, that was not a good display of baseball."

The Red Sox will look to bounce back as Joe Kelly takes the hill hoping to duplicate the success he had against Texas 11 days ago. Kelly limited the Rangers to two runs over seven innings the last time he faced them, but he was rocked for seven runs on eight hits over just 1 2/3 innings by Minnesota in his most recent start.

"He's shown us the ability to go out and work deep in a ballgame. There's no denying the stuff," said Farrell of his 26-year old starter. "It's a matter of consistent location with his fastball. When he's in those games where the runs have come about, it's typically been mislocated fastballs that found their way to the plate."

The Rangers will counter with Wandy Rodriguez, who defeated the Red Sox on May 21 by holding them to a single run over 6 2/3 innings of work. Although Rodriguez has gone 2-1 with a 3.23 ERA in five starts this month, he has a 9.00 ERA in Arlington this season.

Although Texas had a solid offensive showing on Saturday overall, Adrian Beltre and Josh Hamilton combined to go 0-for-8. Hamilton is batting .238 with five home runs and seven strikeouts in six games since rejoining the Rangers.

Texas is just 8-14 at home this season.






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