MLB Game Recaps: Rangers Pound the “Happy” Red Sox
Yesterday, Kevin Youkilis, the center of so much media attention after Bobby Valentine called him out, said, “we’re one happy baseball family.” The truth is, the Red Sox are far from family-like, and they are even farther from happy. Dustin Pedroia came to Youkilis’ defense the other day which brought media scrutiny on him. As a member of the team that drank and ate their way to the biggest collapse in baseball history, Pedroia has been given little rope with which to work. Now, on the heels of Youkilis’ interesting comments, the Red Sox were slaughtered by the Rangers.
The Rangers hit six home runs and scored 18 runs against the struggling Red Sox. After showing signs of life in the previous series against Tampa Bay, Boston allowed the most home runs for a Rangers team since 2008. The Rangers also pounded out 21 hits in the game. Red Sox starter Jon Lester went just two innings, gave up eight hits, and allowed seven runs including one home run. The Sox bullpen didn’t fare much better. They pitched the final seven innings, allowing 11 runs on 13 hits. Matt Albers was the only Boston reliever not to allow a run.
Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Adrian Beltre, and Mike Napoli hit home runs – Napoli hit two of them. Hamilton matched a career high with five RBI. Colby Lewis received more than enough run support in the win and went seven innings. The win moves the Rangers to 9-2 while the Red Sox drop to 4-7.
Texas – 18
Boston – 3
American League
Oakland – 5
Los Angeles (A) – 3
Albert Pujols remains homer-less on the season. He went 1 for 4 in a losing effort, but has still failed to send a ball over the fence. Oakland rode a big, four-run eighth inning to victory. Dan Harren took the no-decision for the Angels after going 6 1/3 innings and only allowing one run.
Cleveland – 9
Seattle – 8
Carlos Santana hit a three-run home run to help power the Tribe to victory. In a game in which neither started lasted longer than four innings, the Indians scored just enough to come out on top. Justin Masterson went just 3 2/3 innings and allowed eight runs, but he got the no decision as the Cleveland bullpen held Seattle scoreless over the final five frames.
Minnesota – 3
New York (A) – 8
After giving up three early runs, C.C. Sabathia settled down and went 7 1/3 innings in the Yankees win. Francisco Liriano and the Twins allowed four runs to the Yankees in the bottom of the fourth, and New York went on to win, dropping the Twins to just 3-8 on the season.
Tampa Bay – 3
Toronto – 7
The Blue Jays scored early and often with their big bats providing the offense. Jose Bautista, Adam Lind, and Brett Lawrie all went deep for Toronto. Evan Longoria made three errors in the game leading to three unearned runs in the game. The Rays drop to 5-6 while the Blue Jays improve to 6-4.
Baltimore – 3
Chicago (A) – 2
John Danks was throwing a gem through the first five innings of the game. He had only allowed one hit through five, but the Orioles exploded for three runs in the sixth. They held on as Chicago answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of sixth. Nolan Reimold hit the big shot, a two-run homer for the Orioles in the sixth.
Detroit – 3
Kansas City – 1
The Tigers won two straight against the Royals after scoring two runs late in the game. Miguel Cabrera drove in the go ahead run in the top of the eighth inning, and Detroit held on for the slim victory. Drew Smyly threw seven innings of one run ball for the Tigers. Bruce Chen threw seven plus innings and allowed just two runs for the Royals.