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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

It's Just Too Easy


The Red Sox swept the four-game series with the Texas Rangers yesterday afternoon, winning the early Patriot's Day game 8-3.

When Rangers (7-13) starting pitcher (and former Red Sox player) Kason Gabbard left in the third inning after catching his foot on the mound, you felt like the game was over even though it was 0-0.

Sure enough, Texas reliever Dustin Nippert came in and gave up eight runs on nine hits with four walks and two strikeouts in 2.1 innings.

Boston (14-7) pitcher Clay Buchholz got out of some early trouble and threw six scoreless innings, giving up five hits, two walks and striking out five to even his record at 1-1.

The Red Sox have now won nine out of their last 10 games and their offense thus far has carried them. Yesterday was no different as the patient Sox hitters worked 11 walks and had 12 hits. The lineup featured Kevin Cash, Jed Lowrie and Joe Thurston.

Fan favorite (in his mind) Julio Lugo went 4 for 4 with two runs, a stolen base and an RBI. Leadoff hitter Jacoby Ellsbury (2 hits, 2 stolen bases, 2 runs, 1 RBI) continued to heat up while Dustin Pedroia (2 hits, 3 RBIs) continues to rake.

David Ortiz had two doubles and three RBIs. One double was a complete gift as Milton Bradley lost the ball in the early afternoon sun by the Green Monster in left field.

The Red Sox put up five runs in the fourth and three in the fifth. Texas had two in the seventh and one in the ninth but it hardly mattered.

Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, David Murphy and Gerald Laird all had two hits in the loss.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim come to Fenway tonight for a three-game set that should be much more competitive than this past weekend against Texas.

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