Texas @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 21, 2010 ) Texas 7, Boston 8
With a second consecutive walk-off victory on Wednesday night, the Boston Red Sox have seemed to forgotten about their five-game losing streak heading into this three-game series against the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers aren’t so fortunate. They’re trying to get out of a six-game losing streak.
Texas hopes left-hander C.J. Wilson can salvage a game in the series finale against the Red Sox, who will counter with right-hander Clay Buchholz.
Wilson, who started two days after his scheduled start because of food poisoning on Friday, went six innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits in a 5-1 loss to the Yankees.
In his season debut against Toronto, Wilson looked sharp, throwing seven scoreless innings in what ended up as a Rangers loss.
Still, it’s been a surprisingly strong start for Wilson, who moved into the rotation after spending four years in the bullpen.
He has a 2.53 ERA in 12 career appearances against the Red Sox, though he’s never started against them.
Offensively, the Rangers are beginning to find their groove, scoring 13 combined runs in their past two games. Josh Hamilton had a three-run home run on Wednesday and Vladimir Guerrero, Michael Young and Julio Borbon all recorded RBIs. Unfortunately for the Rangers Nelson Cruz likely won’t start because of a cramp in his hamstring. Cruz has been their biggest bat this year.
The Rangers sluggers will have their hands full against Buchholz, who is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in two career games against the Rangers.
In Buchholz’s last start against the Rays, he gave up four runs (one earned) in the first inning and lasted only five innings of the loss. He was only a little better in his season debut against Kansas City when he went five innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits.
Buchholz would love to go longer than five innings in his third start this year and he should feel good about getting run support. Although they’ve trailed by three or more runs in the first two games of the series, the Red Sox have shown an ability to overcome early deficits.
The Red Sox rallied from a 6-2 hole on Tuesday thanks in large part to recently called up outfielder Darnell McDonald, who had a home run and game-winning hit.
On Wednesday, the Red Sox came back from a 4-0 deficit and eventually won in extra innings. Boston was helped by a grand slam from J.D. Drew and then a game-winning double from Kevin Youkilis in the 12th inning.
McDonald came through yet again in that game, launching a solo home run in the fourth inning.
In short, the Red Sox are lovin’ McDonald though they hope they won’t need his heroics to pull out a win and finish the sweep tonight.