The Rangers wasted no time on Thursday night in making a statement that they’d be bringing their bats for the second half of the season.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, could muster just a couple of runs, in large part due to the absences of Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez and Jacoby Ellsbury. All season long, the Sox have been able to overcome injuries, but some nights, the offense is clearly missing most of its punch.
On the whole, though, the Red Sox have still managed to be a powerhouse at the plate. They lead the majors with 483 runs scored, which comes out to 5.4 per game. They have 211 doubles — which is 29 more than second-place Detroit — and 120 home runs, second only to Toronto’s 136.
The Red Sox also lead the majors in RBIs with 464, but right behind them are the Yankees (448) and Rangers (433). Texas’ squad has 10 more hits than Boston’s, while New York owns a slight edge in team on-base percentage.
If the Red Sox were healthy, it’s hard to believe they could be markedly better … but they almost assuredly would.
Of course, every team suffers injuries. Nick Johnson was supposed to be a key cog in the Yankees’ lineup, and he’s played in just 24 games. Curtis Granderson and Jorge Posada, both starters, have also missed extended time.
The Rangers had to make due without Ian Kinsler in April, and Nelson Cruz was mashing before two DL stints allowed him to only play 51 games.
