Red Sox Bats Stifled As Rangers Take Brooms Out (0-3)

Things went a little better for the Sox in this game, but the Rangers still took the sweep as they won 5-1. Things started out well, as Ian Kinsler did not take a Red Sox pitcher deep in his first at-bat. However, in the second inning, former Red Sox prospect David Murphy put one in the bleachers to make it 1-0 Rangers. It became 2-0 Rangers on a blast by- guess who- Ian Kinsler. Then in the 5th inning, Mike Napoli hit his 2nd homer of the season to make it 3-0 Red Sox. However, things got interesting in the top of the 7th inning when a single by Kevin Youkilis and a fielder's choice for Jed Lowrie put runners at the corners with 1 out. Carl Crawford then singled up the middle to make it 3-1 Rangers, putting runners at first and second with one out. Jarrod Saltalamacchia flew out and Darnell McDonald took a walk on a questionable call to load the bases with 2 outs for Jacoby Ellsbury. After a long at-bat, Ellsbury struck out, killing the Red Sox rally and hopes of winning. In the bottom of the 7th, the Rangers got some insurance on a home run pounded by Nelson Cruz, his third of the season.Michael Young then hit an RBI double in the 8th, and then they were done, with the score at 5-1.

Clay Buchholz (right) did not have too bad of a game, by the standards of Red Sox pitching this year, at least. He allowed 4 home runs, all solo, through 6 1/3 innings, earning the loss and setting his ERA at 5.68. Dennys Reyes then threw a scoreless 2/3 of an inning and Jonathan Papelbon allowed 1 run in the 8th inning. The offense was not good for the Red Sox, as their one run was scored by Kevin Youkilis on a single by Carl Crawford, who had his first 2 hits in a Red Sox uniform. Tomorrow, the Sox have a day off and then send

Josh Beckett out to face Josh Tomlin and the Indians at 7:05 on Tuesday.

Bright Spots:

David Ortiz- a 2-4 day will put his average at .333 to start the year

Carl Crawford- his first two hits in a Red Sox uniform and an RBI

Dennys Reyes- Reyes appears to be working out for the Sox, pitching in his 3rd straight day for the Sox

Dull Spots:

Clay Buchholz- While he was not as bad as the other Red Sox pitchers, he still allowed 4 runs in 6 1/3, setting his ERA at 5.68

Jacoby Ellsbury- 0-4 with a strikeout and 3 runners left on base

Adrian Gonzalez- His first bad day with the Sox, going 0-4 with 2 strikeouts

Jed Lowrie- Despite some slick fielding, he did go 0-4

Jarrod Saltalamacchia- Still hitless on the season, going 0-3 with a strikeout

I hope that the Red Sox can turn their season around in Cleveland in the next games.