John Smoltz was cruising right along through the first five innings. Then the 6th inning happened.
The Texas Rangers scored 5 runs in the inning and went on to a 6-3 win over the Boston Red Sox in front of 28,916 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
The loss drops the Red Sox (55-37) back into a first place tie with the Yankees, who won on a Hideki Matsui walk-off home run. The Rangers improve to 50-41, which is good for second place in the AL West.
Smoltz had thrown 75 pitches through the first five innings and had only allowed a run. Then the Rangers erupted as they had 3 home runs in the 6th. Smoltz went 5 2/3 innings, allowing the 6 runs on 9 hits while recording 5 strikeouts.
The Red Sox bullpen was solid behind him as Manny Delcarmen, Takashi Saito and Justin Masterson combined to give up a hit, 2 walks and had 4 strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings.
Kevin Millwood was solid in his first outing after the All-Star break. He went 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and a walk and had 3 strikeouts.
“Everyday” Eddie Guardado pitched an inning of relief with a strikeout. Darren O’Day allowed a run on 2 hits in 2/3 of an inning and C.J. Wilson pitched the final 1 1/3 innings with 2 strikeouts to pick up his 8th save of the season for the Rangers.
Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell both had 2 hits each with Youkilis adding an RBI. David Ortiz and Jason Varitek each had a hit and a RBI as well for the Red Sox. Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Bay had the other hits.
The Red Sox are now 1-3 since the All-Star break and have struggled offensively. I’m sure that Boston talk radio will be busy in the morning calling for Clay Buchholz to take a rotation spot of either Brad Penny or John Smoltz after last night. Either that or they will be pushing for the trade of Roy Halladay to the Red Sox.
The Red Sox will look to get back into the win column behind their ace, Josh Beckett, tomorrow night. They will face yet another rookie pitcher in Tommy Hunter.
