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.
National League
Cincinnati – 1
St. Louis – 2
Matt Carpenter, fresh off his 5 RBI performance, hit a sac-fly in the bottom of the 10th to send St. Louis home winners. In the low scoring affair, Cincinnati scored their lone run on two errors and a single in the eighth. Carlos Beltran, who has had a hot start to the season, hit his fourth home run of the year to give the Cardinals the early 1-0 lead in the first.
San Diego – 3
Colorado – 5
Two unearned runs for Colorado in the bottom of the eighth led to the Rockies win. San Diego was trailing 3-2 heading into the eighth. Mark Kotsay dropped a wind-blown fly-ball in left, and the Rockies scored two. San Diego scored one in the ninth and got runners on first and second, but Colorado was able to shut the door.
Pittsburgh – 5
Arizona – 4
Andrew McCutchen knocked in the go-ahead and eventual winning run with a single in the top of the ninth, and the Pirates topped the Diamondbacks. Arizona had tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on a solo shot by John McDonald. Ian Kennedy went six innings and allowed four runs. He did not factor in the decision.
Philadelphia – 2
San Francisco – 4
Pablo Sandoval doubled and drove in a run, Buster Posey was 3 for 4, and the Giants topped the Phillies with two runs in the first and two in the fifth. Madison Bumgarner pitched six solid innings, gave up two runs, and allowed seven hits. Joe Blanton allowed 11 hits in five innings.
Houston – 0
Washington – 1
Brad Lidge had fans on the edge of their seats before slamming the door and preserving the tight win for Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez pitched seven strong innings allowing just two hits while striking out eight. Lidge allowed a double and a walk before getting the next three batters out to earn his second save a a member of the Nationals.
New York (N) – 3
Atlanta – 9
The Braves hammered Johan Santana and knocked him out of the game earlier than he had ever been knocked out in his career. Santana went just 1 1/3 innings, allowed just four hits but six runs. The Mets defense fell apart behind him as New York committed two errors in the game.
Chicago (N) – 2
Miami – 5
In Ozzie Guillen’s return to the dugout, the Marlins scored three in the eighth to ensure victory over the Cubs. The team was just 2-3 during Guillen’s suspension, but quickly turned things around in his return. Josh Johnson was solid, allowing just two runs in seven innings of work. Ryan Dempster received no decision for Chicago. He is winless in his last 12 starts.
Los Angeles (N) – 4
Milwaukee – 5
The Dodgers entered the bottom of the ninth with a one run lead, but that evaporated in an instant. The first two batters of the ninth reached for Milwaukee, then Cory Hart doubled to win the game. It was just the Dodgers second loss on the season and snaps a six game winning streak. Los Angeles had scored two in the eighth to take the lead only to watch Milwaukee walk off winners.
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