FINAL: Rangers 6, Red Sox 4 - Texas fights back after Boston gets to Eovaldi early on
The Rangers battled back and took advantage of a poor night for the Red Sox' bullpen, taking the win by way of a 6-4 final on Tuesday. Boston came out for a three-run top of the third inning to take the lead and respond to Adolis Garcia's homer in the bottom of the second, but Texas got to Mauricio Llovera in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead before knocking Chris Murphy and John Schreiber around in the seventh to take a 6-4 lead after the Sox tied it in the top of the seventh. Aroldis Chapman dominated in the seventh and eighth inning, striking out three, allowing zero hits and averaging 101.2 mph on his sinker. The Sox dropped back to two games below .500.
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WHO: Red Sox (75-76) vs. Rangers (82-68)
WHEN: 8:05 p.m.
WHERE: Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
SERIES TO DATE: 1-0, Boston. Season series: 2-1, Boston
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Tanner Houck (5-9, 4.84) vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (11-4, 2.96).
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUPS
RED SOX
1. Alex Verdugo RF
2. Rafael Devers 3B
3. Justin Turner DH
4. Masataka Yoshida LF
5. Adam Duvall CF
6. Trevor Story SS
7. Connor Wong C
8. Bobby Dalbec 1B
9. Luis Urias 2B
SP Tanner Houck
RANGERS
1. Marcus Semien 2B
2. Corey Seager SS
3. Nathaniel Lowe 1B
4. Josh Jung 3B
5. Robbie Grossman DH
6. Adolis Garcia RF
7. Jonah Heim C
8. Leody Taveras CF
9. Evan Carter LF
SP Nathan Eovaldi
WHAT'S UP
The Red Sox snapped a four-game skid and a five-game road losing streak with a 4-2 win over the Rangers in Monday's series-opener, thanks to a three-run outburst in the eighth inning, headlined by Rob Refsnyder's two-RBI single.
Texas fell into a tie with the Mariners for the final Wild Card spot in the AL. The Rangers have lost four straight, following a six-game winning streak.
Houck will make his second appearance and first start of his career against the Rangers. He gave up one earned run on one hit (a home run) in 3.0 innings out of the bullpen in Texas on May 15, 2022.
In his last outing, he threw 6.0 scoreless innings against the Yankees, giving up four hits and three walks while striking out seven.
Eovaldi will make his second start of the season against his former team, returning to Fenway on July 6 as he gave up four earned runs on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts over 5.1 innings in a 10-6 loss to the Sox. Tuesday marks his ninth appearance and eighth career start against Boston, previously going 3-0 with a 3.23 ERA.
He has been limited in three starts since returning from a right forearm strain that held him out for seven weeks. In his last outing, he threw 3.1 innings in a win at Toronto, giving up two earned runs on three hits, one home run and three walks with three strikeouts.