Boston @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( May 3, 2013 ) Boston 0, Texas 7

The Texas Rangers pounded out 18 hits off one of the best pitching staffs in the league and shut down one of the best offenses to take the series opener from the Boston Red Sox on Friday. They will attempt to turn that trick again and clinch the three-game series when they host the Red Sox on Saturday. The Rangers had dropped four of five entering the series and are trying to establish themselves as the class of the American League by taking out Boston.

The Red Sox have won seven of their last nine after dropping Friday’s game 7-0 but fell to 2-2 on the six-game road trip. Adrian Beltre matched his hit total from the previous eight games with a 4-for-5 effort Friday while knocking in three runs. Ian Kinsler and Mitch Moreland added three hits apiece for the Rangers, who are trying to avoid losing back-to-back series for the first time this season. The AL West leaders don’t appear to need Mike Napoli, who went 0-for-4 in his first trip to Texas since signing with the Red Sox as a free agent in the off-season.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH John Lackey (1-1, 2.61 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Alexi Ogando (2-2, 3.38)

Lackey came off the disabled list Sunday and was sharp in six innings against the Houston Astros, allowing a run on five hits. He struck out eight in 4 1/3 innings before leaving his first start at Toronto with a biceps strain. The veteran right-hander has a long history with the Rangers and has posted a 12-14 record with a 6.16 ERA in 36 career starts. Kinsler is 14-for-32 with three homers and Beltre has two career blasts off Lackey.

Ogando won his first two starts but has gone 0-2 over his last four turns. The 29-year-old allowed three runs and four hits in six innings to suffer a loss at Minnesota on Sunday. Ogando has made one career start in eight appearances against the Red Sox, allowing six runs and six hits - four homers - to suffer a loss on Aug. 25, 2011. David Ortiz and Jarrod Saltalamacchia each took Ogando deep in that contest.

WALK-OFFS

1. Ortiz has hit in 23 straight games dating back to last season, the longest current streak in the majors.

2. Kinsler has hit in nine straight and has six multi-hit games in that span.

3. Boston RF Shane Victorino (back) returned to the lineup on Friday after a seven-game absence and went 1-for-4.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Rangers 5