Its only been two games but the Boston Red Sox offense has basically been Wilyer Abreu and nothing else. Tonight's game against the Texas Rangers the Sox mustered just 8 hits and 1 run against Jack Leiter while the Rangers got to Tanner Houck (0-1, 6.35 ERA), knocking him out in the sixth inning. Jonah Heim hit two home runs against Houck and a rally in the sixth inning but the Rangers up by three. The Sox had their chance with the bases loaded and 1 out in the 7th but Rafael Devers struck out and Alex Bregman grounded out. The trio of Bregman, Devers and Triston Casas haven't hit the first two games and the Rangers won this one 4-1 at Globe Life Field.
Leiter got the ball in the top of the first inning and Jarren Duran grounded back to the mound to start. Rafael Devers struck out swinging and Alex Bregman also went down hacking to end the inning. Houck made his season debut in the bottom of the first and Marcus Semien grounded out to third to start. Corey Seager singled in the hole at third but Wyatt Langford banged into a double play.
Triston Casas grounded back to the mound to start the top of the second before Trevor Story popped up to second. Kristian Campbell slapped a base hit down the third base line and Wilyer Abreu worked a walk, but Connor Wong flied out to left to end the inning. Joc Pederson grounded out to first to start the bottom of the second but Adolis Garcia walked. Garcia stole second but Jake Burger struck out swinging. Josh Jung lined out to center to end the inning.
Ceddanne Rafaela flied out to right to start the top of the third before Duran got a base hit to center. Duran swiped second but Devers took strike three right down the middle. Bregman popped up to short to end the inning. The Rangers struck first in the bottom of the third as Jonah Heim hit a home run all the way to Sri Lanka to put Texas on top. Leody Taveras walked but Semien grounded into a double play. Seager grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Rangers up 1-0.
The Sox fought back in the top of the fourth as Casas grounded out to first to begin. Story singled in the hole at short and promptly stole second. Campbell ripped a base hit to center to move Story to third and Abreu got a base hit to center to score Story, sending Campbell to third. With a chance to go ahead....Wong grounded into a double play to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Langford flied out to left to start the bottom of the fourth before Pederson flied out to center. Garcia walked but Burger flied out to center to end the inning.
Rafaela grounded out to short to start the top of the fifth before Duran grounded out to second. Devers struck out swinging to end the inning. The Rangers took command in the bottom of the fifth as Jung grounded out to third to begin. Heim then hit a home run all the way to New Mexico to put the Rangers up for good. Taveras singled to center, stole second and moved to third on the Semien fly out to center. Seager took strike three to end the inning with Texas up 2-1.
Shawn Armstrong came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Bregman got his first Sox hit with a single to center. Casas struck out swinging, Story grounded out to second and Campbell struck out swinging to end the inning. The Rangers broke it open in the bottom of the sixth as Langford ripped a base hit to left to start. Pederson got a base hit to center but Rafaela gunned down Langford at third. Garcia flied out to left but Burger doubled to left to score Pederson. That was it for Houck who was pulled after allowing 4 runs in 5 2/3 innings off 7 hits and 3 walks. Greg Weissert came in and Jung got a base hit to center to score Burger to ice the game. Heim flied out to left to end the inning with the Rangers up 4-1.
The key of the game came in the top of the seventh with Matt Church on the mound. Abreu got a base hit to right and moved to second on a passed ball. Wong drew a walk but Rafaela popped up to first. Hoby Milner came in to pitch to Duran and Jarren singled to left to load the bases. With the game on the line...Devers struck out swinging and Bregman grounded out to first to end the inning. What a waste. Tavera took strike three to start the bottom of the seventh before Semien grounded out to third. Brennan Bernardino came in to face Seager and Corey flied out to left to end the inning.
Josh Smith replaced Jung with Jacob Webb now on the mound for Texas. Casas flied out to right, Story grounded out to third and Campbell popped up to first in short order. Langford grounded out to third to start the bottom of the eighth before Kevin Pillar pinch hit for Pederson. Pillar grounded out to short and Garcia flied out to right to end the inning.
Luke Jackson came in to close out the top of the ninth and Abreu popped up to second to start. Wong flied out to center and Rafaela grounded out to short to end the game. The Rangers had won it 4-1.
Jackass of The Night is Rafael Devers. He struck out with the bases loaded and went 0 for 4 with the golden sombrero of 4 strikeouts.
The Good:
Jarren Duran was 2 for 4 with a stolen base.
Kristian Campbell was 2 for 4.
Wilyer Abreu was 2 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.
Brennan Bernardino tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Triston Casas was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Ceddanne Rafaela was 0 for 4.
Tanner Houck took the loss allowing 4 runs in just 5 2/3 innings. He allowed 7 hits and 3 walks while striking out two.
The Ugly:
Alex Bregman was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Trevor Story was just 1 for 4 with a run scored.
Connor Wong was 0 for 3 with a walk.
Greg Weissert allowed an inherited runner to score but none of his own in a full inning.
Final Thoughts:
Its only two games but Red Sox fans are panicking already over Bregman, Casas and Devers not hitting. If this is the case two weeks from now, that's one thing but they had a bad couple of games. Devers and Bregman failing with the bases loaded pretty much cost them the game but at the same time, there were others that didn't step up as well. Rafaela and Casas were both 0 for 4 where a bloop or a blast could have done wonders. Houck didn't pitch particularly bad but it was kind of funny how Cora tried to let him finish the sixth when he didn't let Garrett Crochet even attempt to start the sixth yesterday. Not that the offense did them any favors. Still, its only two games so let's not hit the panic button yet. It's not even April. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow night when Walker Buehler makes his Red Sox debut facing Tyler Mahle of Texas. The game begins at 7:05 PM Eastern time at Globe Life Field.
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