GAME THREAD: AL: BOSTON (31-15) at TEXAS (18-29)

AL: BOSTON at TEXAS

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BOSTON (10) AT TEXAS (6) - EVENT LOG
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Boston Starting Lineups -- J Lugo SS, K Youkilis 1B, D Ortiz DH, M Ramirez LF,
J Drew RF, M Lowell 3B, J Varitek C, C Crisp CF, D Pedroia 2B, D Matsuzaka RHP.

Texas Starting Lineups -- K Lofton CF, M Young SS, M Teixeira 1B, S Sosa RF,
F Catalanotto DH, N Cruz LF, I Kinsler 2B, G Laird C, R Vazquez 3B, B McCarthy RHP.

Umpires -- Larry Young (HP), Angel Hernandez (1B), Ted Barrett (2B),
Mark Carlson (3B).

Gametime Weather: 69 degrees, Rain, wind left to right at 5 mph.


BOSTON 1ST: J Lugo flied out to left. K Youkilis struck out swinging.
D Ortiz grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: K Lofton walked. M Young singled to right, K Lofton to second.
M Teixeira grounded into double play, shortstop to first, M Young out at
second, K Lofton to third. S Sosa struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 0.

BOSTON 2ND: M Ramirez walked. J Drew walked, M Ramirez to second.
M Lowell walked, M Ramirez to third, J Drew to second. J Varitek hit sacrifice
fly to center, M Ramirez scored. C Crisp walked, J Drew to third, M Lowell to
second. D Pedroia singled to right, J Drew and M Lowell scored, C Crisp to
third. J Lugo hit into fielder's choice to right, C Crisp scored, D Pedroia
out at second. J Lugo stole second. K Youkilis flied out to left. (4 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 2ND: F Catalanotto grounded out to second. N Cruz struck out
looking. I Kinsler walked. G Laird struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) BOSTON 4, TEXAS 0.

BOSTON 3RD: W Littleton relieved B McCarthy. D Ortiz reached on infield
single to third. M Ramirez doubled to right center, D Ortiz to third. J Drew
grounded into fielder's choice to second, M Ramirez out at second. M Lowell
grounded into double play, shortstop to first, J Drew out at second.(0 Runs,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 3RD: R Vazquez grounded out to shortstop. K Lofton flied out to
center. M Young struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4,
TEXAS 0.

BOSTON 4TH: J Varitek struck out swinging. C Crisp flied out to center.
D Pedroia grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 4TH: M Teixeira tripled to deep left. S Sosa doubled to deep center,
M Teixeira scored. F Catalanotto homered to right, S Sosa scored. N Cruz
struck out swinging. I Kinsler flied out to center. G Laird singled to
center. R Vazquez homered to right, G Laird scored. K Lofton grounded out to
first. (5 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, TEXAS 5.

BOSTON 5TH: J Lugo grounded out to catcher. K Youkilis singled to right.
D Ortiz doubled to right, K Youkilis scored. M Ramirez singled to center,
D Ortiz scored. J Drew grounded into double play, first to shortstop, M Ramirez
out at second.(2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 6, TEXAS 5.

TEXAS 5TH: M Young doubled to right. M Teixeira walked. S Sosa grounded
into double play, second to shortstop to first, M Teixeira out at second,
M Young to third. F Catalanotto struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 6, TEXAS 5.

BOSTON 6TH: F Francisco relieved W Littleton. M Lowell walked. J Varitek
tripled to right, M Lowell scored. C Crisp doubled to right, J Varitek scored.
D Pedroia sacrificed to first, C Crisp to third. J Lugo singled to right,
C Crisp scored. J Lugo stole second. K Youkilis singled to right, J Lugo scored.
D Ortiz walked, K Youkilis to second. S Feldman relieved F Francisco.
M Ramirez struck out swinging. J Drew grounded out to second. (4 Runs, 4 Hits,
0 Errors) BOSTON 10, TEXAS 5.

TEXAS 6TH: K Snyder relieved D Matsuzaka. N Cruz flied out to left.
I Kinsler singled to center. I Kinsler stole second. G Laird struck out
swinging. J Lopez relieved K Snyder. R Vazquez flied out to left. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 10, TEXAS 5.

BOSTON 7TH: M Lowell walked. J Varitek flied out to center. C Crisp
struck out swinging. D Pedroia grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) BOSTON 10, TEXAS 5.

TEXAS 7TH: K Lofton walked. B Donnelly relieved J Lopez. M Young flied out
to right. K Lofton stole second. M Teixeira flied out to center, K Lofton to
third. K Lofton scored on B Donnelly's wild pitch. S Sosa flied out to center.
(1 Run, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 10, TEXAS 6.

BOSTON 8TH: J Lugo grounded out to third. K Youkilis grounded out to
third. D Ortiz grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 10,
TEXAS 6.

TEXAS 8TH: H Okajima relieved B Donnelly. F Catalanotto fouled out to
third. N Cruz grounded out to pitcher. I Kinsler flied out to left. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 10, TEXAS 6.

BOSTON 9TH: E Gagne relieved S Feldman. M Ramirez flied out to center.
J Drew struck out swinging. M Lowell grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) BOSTON 10, TEXAS 6.

TEXAS 9TH: J Papelbon relieved H Okajima. G Laird struck out swinging.
R Vazquez struck out swinging. K Lofton fouled out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) BOSTON 10, TEXAS 6.</div>

 

Ramirez, Ortiz lead balanced attack in Red Sox win

<h3>BOSTON 10, TEXAS 6</h3>ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- With David Ortiz and Manny Ramirezappearing in the heart of the lineup, the Boston Red Sox expectto score runs.

Ortiz and Ramirez each had two hits, scored a run and posted anRBI as the Red Sox downed the Texas Rangers, 10-6, in the firstgame of a three-game series on Friday.

With Boston trailing, 5-4, in the fifth, Ortiz belted a doubleto deep right off Rangers reliever Wes Littleton (0-1) to tiethe score at 5-5. Ramirez followed with a single to center toscore Ortiz to put the Red Sox up for good at 6-5.

Boston pulled away with a four-run sixth off Rangers relieverFrank Francisco as Jason Varitek, Coco Crisp, Julio Lugo andKevin Youkilis each had run-scoring hits to extend the lead to10-5.

Youkilis posted two hits for the Red Sox, extending his hitstreak to 17 games.

Every Red Sox batter, with the exception of Dustin Pedroia,scored a run. J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell were the only Bostonhitters to not record a hit or a RBI.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (7-2) benefited from the strong Boston offenseonce again as they provided him six runs - the seventh straightstart that the Japanese righthander has received at least thatmuch run support.

He surrendered five runs and seven hits - including two homers -with three walks and six strikeouts. Matsuzaka tied his seasonlow by lasting only five innings before leaving the contest dueto nausea.

Rangers starter Brandon McCarthy threw 66 pitches as he lastedjust two innings before succumbing to a blister on his rightmiddle finger. He allowed one hit and four runs with four walksand a strikeout.

Friday's outing marked the third time in 10 starts therighthander has failed to pitch more than two frames.

Littleton yielded two runs and five hits over three innings inrelief of McCarthy to take the loss.

Frank Catalanotto and Ramon Vazquez each homered for theRangers, who have lost three straight.

The start of the game was delayed one hour and 57 minutes byrain.

 

Ramirez, Ortiz lead balanced attack in Red Sox win

<h3>BOSTON 10, TEXAS 6</h3>ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- With David Ortiz and Manny Ramirezappearing in the heart of the lineup, the Boston Red Sox expectto score runs.

Ortiz and Ramirez each had two hits, scored a run and posted anRBI as the Red Sox downed the Texas Rangers, 10-6, in the firstgame of a three-game series on Friday.

With Boston trailing, 5-4, in the fifth, Ortiz belted a doubleto deep right off Rangers reliever Wes Littleton (0-1) to tiethe score at 5-5. Ramirez followed with a single to center toscore Ortiz to put the Red Sox up for good at 6-5.

"We came back after we gave up that lead," said Boston catcherJason Varitek, who had two RBI. "We came back with some realgood at-bats and were able to push two across (in the fifth).That was an important part of the game because the momentum hadalready swung their way."

Boston pulled away with a four-run sixth off Rangers relieverFrank Francisco as Jason Varitek, Coco Crisp, Julio Lugo andKevin Youkilis each had run-scoring hits to extend the lead to10-5.

Youkilis posted two hits for the Red Sox, extending his hitstreak to 17 games.

Every Red Sox batter, with the exception of Dustin Pedroia,scored a run. J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell were the only Bostonhitters to not record a hit or a RBI.

"I think that's a big part of any team having success - onethrough nine - having guys chip in," Red Sox manager TerryFrancona said. "Pedroia got a bunt down right in the middle ofthat rally (in the sixth), it ended up being big. That's a goodformula for winning."

Daisuke Matsuzaka (7-2) benefited from the strong Boston offenseonce again as they provided him six runs - the seventh straightstart that the Japanese righthander has received at least thatmuch run support.

He surrendered five runs and seven hits - including two homers -with three walks and six strikeouts. Matsuzaka tied his seasonlow by lasting only five innings before leaving the contest dueto nausea.

"I felt very good coming out of my warmup in the bullpen and Iwas looking forward to pitching this game, but all of a sudden,I didn't feel too well," Matsuzaka said through an interpreter."I tried my best to take the team as deep into the game aspossible to fulfill my responsibility as the starter."

"You couldn't see any signs of it or evidence of it pre-game,"Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell said. "The first inning, hewent out (and) felt fine, but in the bottom of the second, youcould see it coming on, the pain was starting to emerge, even tothe point there was some dry-heaving on the mound in the secondinning. By the fifth inning, it was coming on again and it wastime to get him out of there."

Farrell did not think Matsuzaka's illness affected hisperformance despite the righthander allowing five runs in thefourth. The Japanese import received IV fluids after the game.

"His velocity was still strong throughout the fifth inning,"Farrell said. "I think the fourth inning was more a result ofnot changing speeds as effectively as he had done. I wouldn'tsay the five-run fourth was a result of how he was feeling asmuch as it was just not mixing his stuff as effectively as hewas prior to that. But I think the fact that he got throughfive innings speaks volumes to the competitor he is."

Rangers starter Brandon McCarthy threw 66 pitches as he lastedjust two innings before succumbing to a blister on his rightmiddle finger. He allowed one hit and four runs with four walksand a strikeout.

"It was on the finger tip," McCarthy said. "It keeps reformingand this time I couldn't get rid of it. I kept throwing,thinking it was going to get better."

"I wouldn't say it affected him, he just couldn't find hiscontrol," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "When you face ateam like that, they're not going to swing if it's not over theplate. If you walk four guys in an inning against that team,eventually someone's going to get you."

Friday's outing marked the third time in 10 starts therighthander has failed to pitch more than two frames.

"It's pretty annoying," McCarthy said. "It's a tough one toswallow but the job is to move on and get better."

Littleton yielded two runs and five hits over three innings inrelief of McCarthy to take the loss.

Frank Catalanotto and Ramon Vazquez each homered for theRangers, who have lost three straight.

"Every night, we come out and know we have to score a lot ofruns," Catalanotto said. "This is a good hitting team and a lotof times, we will score a lot of runs."

The start of the game was delayed one hour, 57 minutes by rain.

"It was tough with the rain delay," said Lugo, who registeredtwo RBI and two stolen bases. "Every time you play after a raindelay, it's tough because you don't know when the game's goingto stop or when it's going to start, but we kept our minds intothis game."