August 13, 2008
Buchholz, Wilson Struggle as Rangers Out Slug Sox
Texas 10, Boston 8
After burning through six pitchers the previous day, manager Terry Francona had to call on two of his veteran relievers once again with lackluster results after starter Clay Buchholz was unable to work past the fifth inning for the seventh time in twenty-one starts this season.
After leaving the game with a 5-2 deficit, Buchholz watched as the Sox offense rallied back to tie the game at 7 after 7 before Brian Wilson coughed up the lead in the eight as the Rangers escaped with a victory.
Texas started early against Buchholz, scoring four in the second, sending nine batters to the plate. With two outs in the fourth, the Sox cut the lead in half on a two-out bases loaded single by Mike Lowell. Julio Lugo, starting in place of the injured Dustin Pedroia, failed to pulled the Sox any closer when he popped up the first pitch he saw from Texas starter Chris Capuano.
In the sixth, a lead off home run by Manny Ramirez cut the lead to two before David Ortiz cut the lead to one, scoring from second on a single by J.D. Drew.
In the seventh, former Texas Ranger Kason Gabbard, making his second appearance of the season for the Red Sox, ran into trouble. After breezing through the sixth, Gabbard struck out Jarrod Saltalamacchia to start the seventh and then got Daniel murphy to ground out to second. After a four pitch walk to Frank Catalanotto, Ian Kinsler drilled a first pitch fastball over the wall in left to put the Rangers ahead 7-4. Brian Wilson relieved Gabbard and, after walking Michael Aubrey, struck out Chris Woodward to end the inning.
In the bottom half of the seventh, though, the Sox battled back. Coco Crisp led off the inning with a single and scored from first on a RBI-double by Kevin Youkilis. After striking out Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz sent Capuano's first pitch out of the ballpark, tying the ball game at seven runs a piece. A pair of flyouts by Drew and Mike Lowell followed a Rafael Furcal walk left the Sox fans on edge, as the club was unable to pull in front of the Rangers against Eddie Guardado.
In the bottom of the eighth, the taxed Red Sox bullpen reared its ugly head. Brian Wilson, after retiring Milton Bradley to lead off the inning, walked Michael Young on four pitches. Josh Hamilton followed with a single, before Saltalamacchia struck out swinging for the second out of the inning. David Murphy, a former Red Sox prospect, put the game out of reach for the Sox with a three-run home run, his 19th of the season.
Hideki Okajima relieved Wilson, retiring Marlon Byrd on a pop out after putting runners on second and third with a pair of walks and a wild pitch.
The Red Sox added a run in the bottom of the ninth after David Ortiz singled and advanced to third on a pair of errors. Joaquin Benoit bounced a ball in front of the plate, and Ortiz hustled home from third to cut the lead to two, but Mike Lowell struck out looking one pitch later to end the game.
W: Guardado (8-4) L:Wilson (2-2) SV: Benoit (35)
Player of the Game: David Ortiz (4-5, 2B (27), HR (25), 3 Rs, 2 RBIs)
Around the League:
...Boston signed free agents SS Craig Counsell and SP Anthony Reyes to one-year contracts...