(Getty Images)
Final: Rangers 6, Red Sox 2 - Rangers pound Sox pitching, offense comes out flat
Brennan Bernardino opened the game with two strikeouts in his first career start. Jarren Duran remained hot at the plate with a leadoff triple in the Sox' bottom half of the frame. Alex Verdugo grounder scored Duran to give Boston an early 1-0. The lead was short lived after Kaleb Ort gave up a three-run blast to Rangers' catcher Mitch Garver. Duran added another double to center field in the thrid, he has 26 this season. Chris Murphy has provided the Sox with innings, he's tossed three innings giving up one earned run, four hits with no strike outs. Texas added three more runs, Justin Garza gave up two earned runs as he saw his ERA balloon to 5.71. Garza also walked four batters in 1 1/3 innings pitched. Justin Turner's RBI single in the eight inning plated the Sox second run before the rain delay. The Sox are back to .500 after dropping the series opener 6-2 to the Rangers.
WHO: Rangers (51-35) at Red Sox (43-43)
WHEN: 1:35 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston.
SERIES TO DATE: Series Opener.
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Dane Dunning (7-1, 2.69 ERA) vs. LHP Brennan Bernardino (1-0, 2.49 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUP
RED SOX
1. Jarren Duran CF
2. Alex Verdugo RF
3. Masataka Yoshida LF
4. Rafael Devers 3B
5. Justin Turner DH
6. Triston Casas 1B
7. Christian Arroyo 2B
8. David Hamilton SS
9. Connor Wong C
SP Brennan Bernardino
RANGERS
1. Marcus Semien 2B
2. Corey Seager SS
3. Josh Jung 3B
4. Adolis García RF
5. Nathaniel Lowe 1B
6. Ezequiel Duran DH
7. Mitch Garver C
8. Robbie Grossman LF
9. Leody Taveras CF
SP Dane Dunning
WHAT’S UP
The Red Sox will begin a six-game home stand starting with the Texas Rangers on the Fourth of July from Fenway Park. Boston will start left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino as an opener and he will be opposed by Dane Dunning.
Bernardino makes his first big league start is expected to pitch only one or two innings before he turns the ball over to the bullpen.
Masataka Yoshida returns to the Red Sox lineup after sitting out the series finale in Toronto. Yoshida was hit by a pitch on Saturday below his right knee and was still feeling sore. He returns to the lineup and will bat third behind Alex Verdugo.
Jarren Duran will look to stay sizzling hot at the plate coming off his five hit performance against the Jays on Sunday. He is leading off and will be in center field. Adam Duvall will miss another game, he was under the weather and unable to play in the series finale versus the Jays.
Duran set a career hit in hits in a game and collected four doubles tying the MLB record for most in a game. He is the only player in Red Sox history to record at least 15 stolen bases and 25 doubles in his first 65 games played in a season, and is the first in MLB since Craig Biggio (1999).
The Sox are playing at home on July 4 for the second straight season. They have won each of their last eight games on Independence Day, outscoring opponents by a 53-19 margin. Boston is tied with the Dodgers for the longest active winning streak on July 4 in MLB.
The Rangers enter play today 3-7 in their last 10 games, which includes 12-11 loss to the Houston Astros on Monday at Globe Life Field.
Dunning comes off his last start against the Tigers, where he struck out 10 batters in 8 2/3 innings giving up two runs off four hits.
PRE-GAME NOTES
The Red Sox made a series of roster moves prior to the game placing righty Garrett Whitlock on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. Whitlock underwent an MRI on Monday following being removed from his start on Sunday against the Blue Jays. The team announced that he has a bone bruise and that there was no structural damage to his elbow.
Boston also placed left-hander James Paxton on the Paternity List and recalled left-hander Brandon Walter and right-hander Tayler Scott from Triple-A Worcester. Paxton was named the AL Pitcher of the Month for June after going 3-0 and posting 1.74 ERA. He allowed seven runs (six earned) on 18 hits, gave up six walks and struck out 34 batters in 31 innings pitched. Opposing batters hit just .165 against him in June. Paxton was superb in his last start against the Blue Jays where he struck out seven batters, as he allowed just three hits and two walks.
Walter has made just one appearance for the Red Sox, it is not known in what capacity he will be used in yet. The southpaw tossed 6 2/3 innings (92 pitches/56 strikes) against the Twins, giving up three earned runs on six hits, including one moonshot homer to Byron Buxton, with two strikeouts and three walks.
The Sox acquired Scott from the Dodgers on June 22 for cash considerations. The 31-year-old made six relief appearances for the Dodgers this season. He allowed six runs, six hits and four walks while striking out eight in six innings. Scott has allowed 41 earned runs in 34 ⅓ innings (10.75 ERA) over 27 big league outings. 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 Alex Cora back when the Sox acquired Scott.
Kenley Jansen was named the lone All-Star representative for the Boston Red Sox. The 35-year-old, who has a 3.45 ERA and has converted 17 of 20 save opportunities so far in 2023 was surprised to have been named to the Mid-Summer Classic in Seattle.
“I wasn’t expecting it, to be honest with you. I wasn’t expecting this one,” he told reporters. “But, you know, when I heard my name, it was pretty special. I’m just gonna honor it and wear this uniform. It’s going to be great.”