Offense Looks Helpless To Back Lackey As Sox Fall 5-1

For the second consecutive game, the Red Sox have fallen to the Texas Rangers and it has been largely due to an anemic offense. This game was not quite so miserable as the series opener as the Red Sox held it close for some time, but it was hardly a feel-good game as the Red Sox dropped their second in a row. The pitching matchup looked potentially interesting with John Lackey (1-1, 2.61) going against Alexi Ogando (2-2, 3.38), and for the most part it was. Lackey did pitch well, the first time we’ve seen him do so against the Rangers, and it was the offense’s fault for the loss.

May 4, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher John Lackey (41) throws a pitch in the first inning of the game against the Texas Rangers at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

It didn’t always look like it was going to be a pitching game though. On Lackey’s very first pitch in the bottom of the first, Ian Kinsler took him deep to left field. However, he recovered from that blow to pitch pretty well. He ran into some trouble in the fourth inning, but if not for a poor defensive play by Will Middlebrooks, who made two errors on the night, he may have gotten away unscatched. As things went, Lackey tossed 5 innings while allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and 3 walks, striking out 4.

The hitters showed a bit of early life as well, as David Ortiz doubled off the wall to start the second inning. Daniel Nava drove him in with a one-out single, but that was all the scoring the Red Sox were able to do. They put two in scoring position with two outs down by two in the seventh inning, but they were not able to cut further into the Rangers’ lead.

Aside from a two-run homer allowed to Craig Gentry by Koji Uehara, the bullpen work was pretty good. Andrew Miller and Junichi Tazawa each threw a scoreless inning, with Tazawa striking out the side. The game wasn’t really out of reach until Uehara served up the tater, but it wasn’t too close either. The Red Sox hitters were just never able to mount enough of a rally to win the game as the Red Sox fall to 20-10 this season.