Before the Red Sox dropped two of three in steamy Texas over the weekend we highlighted three keys to their success.
We discussed how important it would be for Josh Beckett to bounce back from a poor start in New York. That did not go so well.
There was a reference to the Rangers' dangerous running game. While stolen bases were kept to a minimum Texas was certainly the more aggressive team on the paths. Josh Hamilton's dash from second to home on an infield single in Friday's opener was perhaps the best example.
Finally, we pointed out how important it was to not succumb to the excessively hot conditions. Jed Lowrie, who is still struggling to gain strength many months after coming down with mono, left the opener with heat exhaustion and never played again in the series.
Here are a few other items to take from the three-game set, which finished a 5-5 road trip:
Bullpen Blues
The Red Sox' corps of relievers had a pretty solid run for about two weeks at the end of July and into August. That all went into the tank in a miserable four-game run to close out the road trip.
Including the finale in Toronto and all three games in Texas, Boston's bullpen gave up 11 runs in eight innings. Two more inherited runners came in when Manny Delcarmen served up a three-run home run in relief of Daisuke Matsuzaka on Sunday.
The organization attempted to go out and get some help in the bullpen at the trade deadline, but the run of success may have caused it to think otherwise and rely on in-house help such as Felix Doubront and Michael Bowden. Perhaps the last few games of the road trip will have the Sox searching for assistance once again.
Lester Leads the Way
Much was made of Jon Lester's personal four-game losing streak after the All-Star break. Perhaps even more should be made of what he did to help the Red Sox avoid disaster on the road trip.
Boston had dropped two straight prior to both of Lester's starts on the trip, including the back-to-back walk-off losses Thursday and Friday. Both times he put nothing but goose eggs on the board, throwing 14 1/3 scoreless innings overall and picking up two victories.
With Jonathan Papelbon and Daniel Bard both unavailable on Saturday night, Lester tossed eight scoreless innings while not walking a batter for the second time all season.
Clay Buchholz was also 2-0 on the trip but was pitching after wins and with a rested bullpen. Not to take a single thing away from Buchholz, but Lester's performance in the clutch stands out.
Star Power
With Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis struggling through injury-plagued seasons and David Ortiz a one-trick pony, the Red Sox have lacked that one true game-changing superstar, the type of player that can alter an opponents' plan of attack.
Texas has such a player in Hamilton, who dominated Boston throughout the series and provided further proof that he may just be the best all-around player in baseball.
Hamilton was 6-for-11 with two homers, a stolen base and six runs scored in the series, including that sprint home from second to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday night.
Throw in at least two remarkable catches in center field and you can see how fortunate the Rangers are to have a player like Hamilton.
