No Problems Silencing The Red Sox Line-Up!
By Matt DeLucia
After sweeping the Tigers and riding a four game win streak the Boston Red Sox were headed back to Fenway. Back to their home that’s been very friendly to them over the course of the season. Having the best home record in the American League’s at 17-6, the team riding their 4 game win streak and a revitalized offense, things are looking good. Making things even better for the Sox, was seeing the Texas Rangers come limping into town for their only regular season appearance at Fenway Park this year.
The Rangers who just limped out of New York, losing two of three to the Yankees, were ripe for the picking. The Sox were throwing Brad Penny in the opener vs Kevin Millwood for the Rangers. Millwood who’s struggled at Fenway (1-3) over the course of his career, was going up against a Boston offense that’s been on fire over the past four games. On paper things were looking even better for the Red Sox, as this should have been another victory for the Sox.
Things didn’t turn out that way for the Sox as Millwood had no problems silencing the Red Sox line-up! The Rangers provided all the runs that Millwood would need in the top of the fifth when they knocked Penny around for four runs in the inning. With two out and Penny looking like he might escape the inning without an damage, the flood gates opened. Fueled in part by Ian Kinsler and his 15th HR on the season, which scored three of the four runs for the Rangers.
Millwood went seven strong innings and really never was in trouble vs the Boston hitters, until the eighth inning. After Jason Bay reached on an error and Mike Lowell walked to give the Sox runners on first and second with none out. David Ortiz stepped to the plate and managed to get Boston on the scoreboard with a single to right-field. Which scored Bay from second for the only run on the night that Boston would plate vs the Rangers.
Moments later the Rangers went to the bullpen and brought in Eddie Guardado, to help kill the Boston threat and preserve the victory for Millwood. Guardado quickly made easy work of the Sox as he struck out Jason Varitek. Made Jacoby Ellsbury fly out and forced Rocco Baldelli to ground out to end the inning. Guardado did all that in the eighth on only 15 pitches as he secured the game and the victory, by shutting down Boston’s only threat on the evening.
Millwood’s line for the night goes like this, seven innings, seven hits, one run given up while striking out five hitters and walking four. The victory gives Millwood a 5-4 record on the season and keeps the Rangers in first place in the AL West. Penny saw his record fall to 5-2 with the loss in the opener of this series. The loss also drops the Sox out of first in the AL East by a half game, as the Rays-Yankees game was postponed due to rain on Friday night.
The Sox look to even the series up this evening as they send Jon Lester (4-5) to the mound vs Derek Holland (1-2), game time is 7:10 pm. LET’S GO LESTER AND COME ON BOSTON!