It wasn’t a good start to the unofficial start to the second half of the 2010 season for the Boston Red Sox. They had come into last night’s game having won just two of their last seven games and were facing off against the AL West-leading Texas Rangers.
Any chance of a Red Sox win was pretty much tucked in and put to bed in the first inning when the Rangers erupted for six runs off of Tim Wakefield. The Rangers had a plan of attacking Wake’s knuckleball early and they did. Wake did settle down for a five pitch second inning but he was chased in the third after a single, an error and a double made it 7-0.
Robert Manuel came in and did yeoman’s work as he allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one. Dustin Richardson followed up with a 1/3 of an inning and issued three walks. Scott Atchison, who really has come in to his own since returning the Red Sox, gave the Red Sox three strong innings, allowing just a hit with a strikeout.
Offensively the Red Sox really couldn’t muster much against Tommy Hunter, who had been rocked in his only Fenway appearance back in 2008. He managed to shutdown the Red Sox as he only gave up five hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings. The only runs the Red Sox would score last night came on solo home runs from J.D. Drew and Bill Hall.
They were without Adrian Beltre who had an MRI before the game that showed just a strain of his hamstring. Given the way he’s played offensively, the Red Sox can’t really afford to be without him. The good news is that he could be back in the lineup tonight.
On the injury front, Manny Delcarmen pitched a scoreless inning for the Portland Sea Dogs and it looks like he’ll be activated before Saturday’s game. MDC was joined in New Britain, CT by his teammate Jeremy Hermida who went 2-for-4 while serving as the DH for the Sea Dogs. Hermida will play in left tonight and then DH again on Saturday before heading to Boston to be examined.
It’s a big day for Clay Buchholz as he’ll make a rehab start for the Pawtucket Red Sox in Syracuse. It’s also a big day for Dustin Pedroia and Jason Varitek as they’ll be examined to see how their broken feet are progressing.
Definitely not the way the Red Sox wanted to start the second half but it’s just one game. Hopefully the young lefty Felix Doubront can help them get back on the winning side of things tonight.
We’ll be back later with tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, any news and links from the day but for now enjoy the overnight links after the jump.
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No vacation [Boston Globe]
Injury not serious, but Beltre sits out [Boston Globe]
Hall got second chance at third [Boston Globe]
Bowden will get chance to pitch in [Boston Globe]
They have their work cut out now [Boston Globe]
Recap: Rangers 7, Red Sox 2 [Boston Herald]
Losing numbers game [Boston Herald]
Adrian Beltre still upset by Joe Girardi All-Star flub [Boston Herald]
Josh Beckett on way back [Boston Herald]
Cliff Lee settles in with Rangers [Boston Herald]
Tim Wakefield puts it in past [Boston Herald]
Thumb’s up for V-Mart [Clubhouse Insider]
Wakefield and Sox spanked by Texas, 7-2 [CSN New England]
Beltre still mystified by Girardi’s actions [CSN New England]
Bill Lee on Steinbrenner’s death: ‘Good’ [CSN New England]
Red Sox observe moment of silence for Yankee greats [ESPN Boston]
Martinez’s fractured thumb healing fine [ESPN Boston]
Wakefield struggles in short outing [ESPN Boston]
Amalie Benjamin’s analysis of Red Sox’ loss to Rangers [Extra Bases]
Closing Time: Rangers 7, Red Sox 2 [Full Count]
Scan shows Martinez still progressing [Full Count]
Rangers still may be interested in Lowell [Full Count]
Bill Lee on Steinbrenner’s death: ‘Good’ [Full Count]
Red Sox-Yankees Rivalry Reached Epic Proportions During The Boss’ Tenure [NESN.com]
Frustrating First Inning Sets Harrowing Tone for Red Sox in Series Opener Against Texas [NESN.com]
Which Pitcher Will Be Most Important to Red Sox’ Run to Playoffs? [NESN.com]
Wakefield shelled in first, Sox can’t recover [Providence Journal]
Bill Hall: So versatile, and so important to this Red Sox team [Providence Journal]
Scan on Victor Martinez’s thumb shows no further damage [Providence Journal]
Lee’s trade to Rangers a blessing for Sox [Providence Journal]
Hermida could be activated next weekend [Providence Journal]
Adrian Beltre and Michael Young’s strange All-Star mixup [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Beckett almost ready to rejoin team [Providence Journal]
Beltre feels better, but not in lineup [RedSox.com]
Beckett could return after next rehab start [RedSox.com]
Epstein: Sox will be active in trade talks [RedSox.com]
Wakefield’s early struggles sink Sox [RedSox.com]
How Adrian Beltre got so tough [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy papers, head over to the Dallas Morning News and Ft. Worth Star-Telegram websites.
Photo credit: Getty Images
