Red Sox Wrap: Boston Can’t Get Out Of Own Way In 8-0 Loss To Rangers

The Boston Red Sox’s issues are piling up in Arlington.

The Red Sox were terrible in nearly every aspect Saturday while suffering an 8-0 loss to the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park. Boston has lost five of six games on its current seven-game road trip.

Boston took advantage of lackluster play by its opposition early this season. Now, it’s the Sox who can’t get out of their own way on a nightly basis. Something — or things (plural) — needs to change soon.

GAME IN A WORD
Slovenly.

The Red Sox puked all over their shoes defensively in a horrendous effort all-around. Boston committed three errors, but that total hardly captures the true essence of the team’s defensive sloppiness.

Oh yeah, things weren’t too pretty in other facets of the game, either.

IT WAS OVER WHEN…
The Red Sox gift-wrapped a four-run fourth inning for the Rangers.

Wade Miley loaded the bases by issuing a walk and surrendering two singles. Robinson Chirinos followed with a line drive over Rusney Castillo’s head that plated two runs. Castillo took a very ugly route to the baseball, eliminating any chance he had at making a play.

Hanser Alberto, who collected his first major league hit Friday, then hit a ground ball to short. Brock Holt made the play, but his throw home short-hopped catcher Sandy Leon, allowing Leonys Martin to score Texas’ fourth run. Holt fired three balls into the dirt and committed two throwing errors overall.

The speedy Delino DeShields tested Boston’s defense by bunting with runners at the corners. Miley charged off the mound and attempted to shovel a throw home, but it shot past Leon, allowing the Rangers’ fifth run to score.

ON THE BUMP
— Miley deserved better, sure. He was killed by bad defense and some bloop hits. But the left-hander’s performance was by far his worst of May. And the Red Sox needed a stopper amid this shaky road trip.

Miley allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits and two walks over four-plus innings. His ERA, which had been in a steady decline since the calendar flipped, jumped to 4.97.

Miley exited with the bases loaded in the fifth inning after the Rangers’ first three hitters reached via an error by Holt, a four-pitch walk and a softly-hit single. Credit Robbie Ross Jr. for Miley’s stat line not looking any worse, as he limited the Rangers to one run in the frame.

— Ross tossed three innings in relief of Miley. He gave up two runs on three hits while striking out three.

Both runs charged to Ross came in the seventh inning.

IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— The Red Sox didn’t produce their first hit against Chi Chi Gonzalez, who made his major league debut, until the sixth inning. David Ortiz lined a leadoff double into the left-center field gap, advanced to third on a groundout and was tagged out on a comebacker.

Mike Napoli also doubled in the inning, setting up second and third for Holt. But Holt struck out swinging against Tanner Scheppers to end the mini threat.

— Ortiz finished 2-for-4 in his first game back after a two-day break.

— Napoli reached base three times, as he worked two walks in addition to doubling in the sixth.

— Dustin Pedroia extended his hitting streak to 10 games with an infield single in the seventh.

— Boston went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.

TWEET OF THE GAME
Not tonight.

[tweet https://twitter.com/Evan_P_Grant/status/604812000762466306 align=’center’%5D

UP NEXT
The Red Sox will wrap up their road trip Sunday with one more tilt against the Rangers. It’s been a disappointing stretch regardless of Sunday’s result, but Joe Kelly will try to end Boston’s excursion on a positive note.

Thumbnail photo via Tim Heitman/USA TODAY Sports Images