"Boston Red Sox...zero...point..zero" - DW
Things went bad right from the start for the Sox offense in the top of the first against Holland. Jacoby Ellsbury and Shane Victorino both struck out before Dustin Pedroia grounded out to end the inning. Doubront hung tough in the bottom of the first inning. Ian Kinsler singled but was erased on the Elvis Andrus force. Lance Berkman popped up and old pal Adrian Beltre singled, but Andrus was gunned down at third by Victorino to end the inning. Guess Andrus forgot the cardinal rule of never making the first or third out at third base.
David Ortiz got the Sox first hit with a bloop to right in the top of the second but Mike Napoli and Jonny Gomes both whiffed. Will Middlebrooks flied out to end the inning. The Rangers struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Nelson Cruz flied out and AJ Pierzynski grounded out but Jeff Baker doubled. Mitch Moreland singled him to third and shortstop Pedro Ciriaco fielded a ground ball by Crag Gentry, did a cartwheel and threw the ball straight up in the air to himself. This allowed Baker to score on the play. Kinsler flied out to end the inning but the Rangers led 1-0.
The Sox failed to respond in the top of the third inning. Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ciriaco grounded out and Ellsbury struck out to end the inning. Doubront battled in the bottom of the third inning. Andrus singled but Berkman grounded into a double play. Beltre and Cruz both singled but Pierzynski struck out to end the inning.
Holland remained red hot in the top of the fourth inning. Victorino singled but Pedroia struck out and Ortiz banged into a double play to end the inning. The wheels fell off for Doubront in the bottom of the fourth inning. Baker popped up but Moreland singled. Gentry struck out but Kinsler singled. Andrus singled home Moreland and Berkman walked to load the bases. Beltre then cleared the bases with a double to make it 5-0 and chase Doubront. He played with fire all game and finally got burned.
Rookie Alex Wilson came in to put out the fire and Cruz singled home Beltre. Pierzynski lined out to end the inning with the Rangers holding a commanding 6-0 lead.
Old friend David Murphy came in to play left field in the top of the fifth inning as Holland continued to cruise. Napoli flied out but Gomes walked, only for Middlebrooks to ground into a double play to end the inning. Wilson got tagged in the bottom of the fifth as well. Murphy struck out but Moreland singled. Leonys Martin hit for Gentry and singled. Kinsler doubled home Martin to wrap up the scoring. Andrus flied out and Berkman grounded out to end the inning with the Rangers up 7-0.
The Sox got their only scoring threat in the top of the 6th inning. Saltalamacchia struck out but Ciriaco singled. Ellsbury singled but Victorino popped up. Pedroia grounded out to end the inning. Wilson returned for the bottom of the 6th inning and Beltre greeted him with a single before being erased on the Cruz double play. Pierzynski lofted a ground ball to Middlebrooks who fielded it but suddenly threw his glove up in the air and ran away screaming with his arms flailing over his head, allowing AJ to reach on the error. Murphy flied out to end the inning.
Holland returned for the top of the seventh and continues to dominate. Ortiz and Napoli grounded out but Gomes singled. Middlebrooks struck out to end the inning. Wilson returned briefly in the bottom of the seventh. Moreland flied out but Martin walked to chase him. Clayton "Vigo" Mortensen relieved Wlson and got Kinsler to fly out. Andrus grounded out to end the inning.
Holland returned for the top of the eighth and continued to dominate. Saltalamacchia flied out and Ciriaco struck out before Ellsbury somehow singled. Victorino popped up to end the inning. 8 shut out innings by Holland, woof.
Mortensen returned for the bottom of the eighth. Berkman popped up and Beltre grounded out, but Cruz walked and Pierzynski singled. Murphy struck out to end the inning.
Old pal Derek Lowe took the mound in the top of the ninth for the Rangers. Just like vintage Lowe, he was able to get Pedroia, Ortiz and Napoli all to ground out to end the game. The misery was over with the Rangers winning 7-0.
Jackass of the night is Felix Doubront. Even though the offense put up a goose egg, Doubront got knocked out in the fourth inning and left trailing 6-0. A better pitched game and maybe the Sox approach the later innings differently.
The Good:
Jacoby Ellsbury was 2 for 4.
Jonny Gomes was 1 for 2 with a walk.
Clayton Mortensen pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
The Bad:
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Mike Napoli was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Will Middlebrooks was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Shane Victorino was just 1 for 4.
David Ortiz was just 1 for 4.
Pedro Ciriaco was 1 for 3 but his error led the game's first run to score.
Alex Wilson gave up the 7th run but pitched 2 2/3 innings of mop up duty.
Final Thoughts:
That as just terrible. They couldn't hit the lefty Holland if their lives depended on it and Doubront got lit up by a powerful Rangers lineup. The Sox have been swinging the bat well lately so they were bound to have a stinker. It was a shame but not the end of the world. The Sox drop to 20-9 and take on Texas in Game 2 of this series. Alexi Ogando goes for Texas with John Lackey getting the ball for the Sox at 8:05 PM.
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