All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Rangers’ 6-2 win over the Red Sox, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Jarren Duran remained hot at the plate but it wasn’t enough as the Red Sox dropped the series opener to the Rangers on Tuesday, 6-2. Duran opened the game with a leadoff triple to deep center field and then scored on an Alex Verdugo groundout.
The Rangers took the lead for good in the second inning as Mitch Garver connected for a three-run homer off reliever Kaleb Ort. Garver’s blast went 408 feet into the center field seats. Ort has struggled with the Sox this season, his ERA ballooned to 6.26 in 21 games.
The Rangers continued to provide fireworks offensively off the Sox’ bullpen following the Garver blast.
Chris Murphy replaced Ort in the fourth inning and he allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings of work. Robbie Grossman tagged the southpaw for one run after he scorched an RBI double to deep center.
Justin Garza followed Murphy and surrendered two runs and walked four batters in 1 1/3 innings. The righty allowed an RBI double to All-Star third baseman Josh Jung and then walked in a run expanding the lead to 6-1.
Boston’s offense was able to scrape across a run in the eighth inning before Mother Nature reared her ugly head and forced a one-hour, 47-minute rain delay.
Once play resumed in the eighth inning, Masataka Yoshida singled into shallow right center and then took second on a passed ball. He would score after Justin Turner drove in his 47th RBI of the season off Rangers reliever Brock Burke.
TURNING POINT
Once Brennan Bernardino was removed from the game after 1 1/3 innings, the Rangers feasted on Sox pitching. Ort and Garza exposed the warts in the bullpen and until players get healthy and come off the IL, fans can expect more of the same with these particular pitchers. Ort last 2/3 innings pitched giving up three hits, two earned runs all on nine pitches. Garza now owns a 5.71 ERA after his latest outing where he struck out four batters. Texas scored five runs off the duo while touching Murphy for one earned run.
“You try to keep it under control,” said Alex Cora. “It’s not easy, but this is where we’re at right now.”
Duran came into the game 5-for-5 and he collected two hits in his first two at-bats. He tripled in the first inning and doubled in his second plate appearance. The Sox outfielder went 7-for-7 dating back to Sunday’s game against the Blue Jays.
That streak ended after he popped out to second base; Duran was later pinch-hit (Rob Refsnyder) for when the Rangers brought in the lefty Burke.
Brandon Walter was recalled from Triple-A Worcester prior to the game. The southpaw pitched a scoreless eighth inning and he should be available out of the bullpen later in the series. Walter has a 3.52 ERA with two strikeouts over two appearances with the Red Sox.
DOWN
Triston Casas is struggling to begin the month of July hitting .111 with a .222 slugging percentage along with four strikeouts.
David Hamilton went 0-for-4 (.120) with one strikeout. His time with the Sox appear to be coming to an end. Yu Chang is rehabbing this week with the WooSox and could rejoin the Sox before the All-Star break. Once Chang returns to the club, he will take over as the team’s starting shortstop.
NOTABLE
Tayler Scott made his Red Sox debut in the ninth inning, working around a leadoff walk to pitch a scoreless frame. The Sox acquired Scott from the Dodgers on June 22 for cash considerations. While with the WooSox, Scott made two appearances posting a 3.00 ERA giving up five hits and striking out two batters. He throws a fastball, slider and changeup. “We believe we can do other stuff with his fastball but the slider and changeup we really like,” said Cora back when the Sox acquired Scott.
UP NEXT
Brayan Bello will start on Wednesday following his impressive performance against the Marlins last week. Bello who took a no-hitter into the eighth inning, will look to build on his impressive season. The Sox right-hander is 5-5 with a 3.08 ERA this season, and he has a 2.33 ERA, 1.08 WHIP over his last 11 starts. Texas will have right-hander Jon Gray (6-4, 3.21 ERA) on Wednesday; first pitch will be at 7:10 and can been seen on NESN and heard on 93.7 WEEI FM.