BSJ Game Report: Rangers 7, Red Sox 5

The Red Sox fell short of a sweep of the Texas Rangers, dropping a 7-5 decision in their final game ever at Globe Life Park. Here are three things we learned:

1) Hopefully, this is the last bullpen game for a while

Thanks to season-ending injuries to Chris Sale and David Price, the Red Sox have had to keep their starting rotation with duct tape for the past month, using a variety of pitchers to fill in for the missing starters. In general, most of the pitchers have done a serviceable job, including Thursday's start by Travis Lakins, who gave the Sox two scoreless innings. It's not an easy assignment for these relievers, many of whom are not accustomed to the routine of starting and competing to the best of their ability.



But at some point, the use of eight, nine or 10 pitchers per game becomes tough to take. Yes, the Red Sox are eliminated and the games don't carry a lot of weight. And it's certainly not anyone's fault that two cornerstones in the rotation are hurt and unable to take their regular turns. But the steady steam of pitchers trudging from the bullpen to the mound every few batters has become baseball's version of the March of the Wooden Soldiers. It turns the games into long, drawn-out contests and fans are paying big league prices to watch the equivalent of spring training approaches being employed. The Sox have Nathan Eovaldi set for Friday and Eduardo Rodriguez Sunday, with Jhoulys Chacin going Saturday. Chacin has slowly been stretched out and can probably give the Sox four or five innings at this point. Good. And next September -- with a cap on rosters at 28 players -- can't get here soon enough.

2) The Sox are a banged up group heading into the final weekend

The team may have a seemingly endless supply of relievers --- 22 at last count -- but the number of healthy and available position players seems to be dwindling. Brock Holt, who had been slowed by a knee issue the last few days, got pressed into duty at third base. Mookie Betts, who missed five games recently with inflammation in his left foot, missed Wednesday and Thursday after aggravating the condition Tuesday when he ran into the wall in right field. Then, during the game, Andrew Benintendi fouled a ball of his calf and soon came out of the game. After the loss, Alex Cora said the injury wasn't thought to be serious, but Benintendi may need a day or so to recover. The Sox were short enough that they played out the game with Sandy Leon as their first baseman, after first baseman Sam Travis was forced to go to left to take over for Benintendi. There are just three games remaining, but the Sox are literally staggering to the finish line.

3) Travis hasn't taken advantage of his opportunity

There's likely to be a "Help Wanted'' sign hung on the first base bag this winter by the Red Sox. It's virtually a given that both Steve Pearce and Mitch Moreland, both free agents, won't return for 2020. That leaves Michael Chavis as one possibility for the position and perhaps, if he has a strong spring, Bobby Dalbec could insert himself into that equation. But one person who could have made some noise in the second half of this season and failed to do so is Sam Travis. For a time after he was called up after the Sox designated Eduardo Nunez for assignment earlier this season, Travis made a little noise at the plate, especially against lefties. But more recently, he's done little to command attention. He did manage a run-scoring single in the fourth inning, accounting for the first Red Sox run of the afternoon. But he also committed an error at first, made a poor throw to second on another occasion and later hit into a double play, then struck out with two on and two out. The hit in the fourth was only his third this month, while the RBI was, incredibly, his first since Aug. 18. That sort of production isn't going to cut it at a position like first base.