Rangers 6 – Red Sox 3
It’s final–after a two game sweep at the hands of the Texas Rangers–the Red Sox will take an ugly 4-8 record into their 100 year celebration at Fenway Park on Friday.
Josh Beckett gave the Red Sox his second consecutive quality start– 7 IP, 7H, 3ER, 1BB, 7K–but opposing pitcher Derek Holland was just a little bit better.
Holland went 7 innings and allowed just 4H, 2ER, 3BB and struck out 7 as well.
Kevin Youkilis hit a 2-run bomb in the Red Sox half of the second but the Rangers answered quickly with an RBI single by Josh Hamilton in the third and a go-ahead 2-run shot off the bat of Mike Napoli in the third to take a 3-2 lead.
Both starting pitchers were able to bear down and keep the game right there but the Rangers would get to Franklin Morales in the eighth for 3ER in the eighth.
After getting the first out in the inning, Morales allowed a single, passed ball, intentional walk, walk and hit Craig Gentry to force in a run. Mike Napoli–who already had a homer in the game–came up next and ripped a double off the scoreboard in the left, driving in a pair and making it 6-2.
The Red Sox made things interesting in the ninth but couldn’t get the job done against Joe Nathan in a non-save situation.
After a walk and a throwing error put runners on second and third, Ryan Sweeney hit a blooper that fell in front of Nelson Cruz, allowing Cody Ross to score from third and bringing Jarrod Saltalamacchia to the plate as the tying run.
Salty worked a full count before ripping one to first base that looked like trouble but Brandon Snyder quickly snagged it and stepped on first to double up Sweeney and end the game.
Series sweep, three game losing streak, three game series against the Yankees starting Friday. Everything’s golden in Red Sox Nation.
That was sarcasm by the way…
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