So much for the revamped Boston Red Sox offense. On a day where the Texas Rangers once again hit four home runs, the Sox were held to just 5 hits and one measly run by Matt Harrison and the Rangers bullpen. Clay Buchholz (0-1, 5.68 ERA) held the Rangers to just 5 hits in 6 1/3 innings but four of them were home runs. The Sox as a whole had only had 5 hits as the Texas Rangers outslugged and outpitched the Sox in a shocking 3 game sweep. The Rangers knocked off the Sox 5-1 at Arlington Park.
Harrison got the ball in the top of the first inning and Jacoby Ellsbury to grounded out to second to start. Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez both struck out swinging to end the inning. Ian Kinsler led the bottom of the first off with a walk but was erased on the Michael Young double play. Josh Hamilton took strike three to end the inning.
Kevin Youkilis led off the second by taking strike three but David Ortiz followed with a single into the shift. Jed Lowrie flied out to right but Carl Crawford singled to keft. With 2 men on, Saltalamacchia's slump continued by striking out looking to end the inning. The Rangers struck first in the bottom of the second as Adrian Beltre grounded out to short to start. Nelson Cruz flied out to right but old friend David Murphy hit a home run all the way to Lagos, Nigeria to give the Rangers the lead. Mike Napoli flied out to right to end the inning but the Sox were already behind 1-0.
Darnell McDonald led off the third by striking out swinging then Ellsbury grounded back to the mound. Pedroia managed a single in the hole at short but Gonzalez struck out swinging to end the inning. The Rangers struck again in the bottom of the third although Mitch Moreland lined out to right to start. Andres Blanco struck out swinging but Kinsler hit his third home run in his third straight game to increase the lead. Young grounded out to short to end the inning with the Rangers ahead 2-0.
It didn't get any better in the top of the fourth inning for the Sox. Youkilis flied out to center, Ortiz grounded out to third and Lowrie popped up to right in foul territory to end the inning. Buchholz rebounded in the bottom of the fourth by first striking out Hamilton swinging to start. Beltre and Cruz both flied out to left to end the inning.
The Sox woes continued in the top of the fifth as Crawford struck out looking to start. Saltalamacchia reached first on an error by Harrison only for McDonald to hit into a double play to end the inning. The Rangers tagged Buchholz again in the bottom of the fifth although Murphy grounded out to second to start. Napoli hit yet another home run for the Rangers to give the Rangers a commanding lead. Moreland grounded out to first and Blanco grounded out to short to end the inning but it was 3-0 Rangers.
The Sox went quietly in the top of the sixth as Ellsbury grounded out to second to start. Pedroia grounded out to to third and Gonzalez grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Kinsler led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk but eagle eye'd Buchholz picked him off. Young singled but was erased on the Hamilton double play to end the inning.
The Sox offense woke up briefly in the top of the seventh. Youkilis led off with a walk and Ortiz singled him to second. Lowrie grounded into a force that erased Ortiz but put Youk at third. Crawford got his first rbi when he singled home Youk to cut the deficit. Saltalamacchia flied out to right but Darnell McDonald worked a walk to load the bases. With a chance to tie the game or more......Ellsbury struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 3-1.
It was the Sox last gasp as it turned out, the Rangers capitalized on their dodged bullet by firing away at the Sox in the bottom of the seventh. Beltre led off by popping up to short but Cruz joined Kinsler as he homered for the third straight day to finish off Buchholz. He went 6 1/3 and allowed 4 solo shots as the portly Dennys Reyes took over. Murphy singled to right but was picked off by an alert Reyes. Napoli singled in the hole at short but Moreland struck out swinging to end the inning with the Rangers ahead 4-1.
Old friend Darren Oliver came in for the top of the eighth and Pedroia flied out to left to start. Gonzalez grounded out to third and Youkilis struck out looking to end the inning. Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon made his season debut in the bottom of the eighth and was promptly pounded. Blanco doubled, Kinsler was hit and Young doubled Blanco home. Papelbon intentionally walked Hamilton to load the bases and everyone in Boston facepalmed. Fortunately the Papelbon of old showed up as he struck out Beltre, Cruz and Murphy all swinging to end the inning with the Rangers up 5-1.
Nefali Feliz came in to close out the top of the ninth and the Sox went quietly. Ortiz and Lowrie flied out to center and Crawford grounded out to first to end the game. The Rangers had swept the Sox out of Texas with a 5-1 win.
Jackass of the Night is Jacoby Ellsbury. He was 0 for 4 including a bases loaded, rally killing strikeout.
The Good:
David Ortiz was 2 for 4.
Carl Crawford was 2 for 4 with an rbi.
Dennys Reyes got the final two outs of the seventh inning.
The Bad:
Adrian Gonzalez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Jed Lowrie was 0 for 4.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Clay Buchholz took the loss by allowing 4 solo home runs in 6 1/3 innings.
Jonathan Papelbon allowed a run in the bottom of the eighth.
The Ugly:
Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Kevin Youkilis was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run.
Darnell McDonald was 0 for 2 with a strikeout but walked.
Final Thoughts:
Not the way the Red Sox wanted to start their season after the disappointing end to 2010. Yes the Texas Rangers are the real deal but this was total domination by the Rangers. It wasn't just winning, the Rangers swept the Sox 3 straight with 11 home runs and lights out starting pitching (in the last 2 games anyway). Ian Kinsler would set the Major League record for home runs if he played Boston every day. Buchholz didn't even pitch that bad overall but he couldn't escape the longball. The offense wasn't completely useless but once Ellsbury struck out, it was all downhill from there. There's plenty of time to turn the ship around but getting swept on opening weekend leaves a bad taste in the mouths of the fans. After an off-day tomorrow, the Sox are back in action Tuesday night in Cleveland. Josh Beckett makes his season debut against Josh Tomlin of the Indians at 8:05 PM Eastern time at Progressive Field.
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