Red Sox Wrap: Boston Unable To Overcome Rangers Rally In Loss

The Boston Red Sox fell to the Texas Rangers, 7-4, at Globe Life Field on Saturday night, setting up a rubber match in their series finale.

With the loss, Boston dropped to 58-51 while Texas improved to 53-58.

Check out the full box score here.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Boston attacked the scoreboard early, scoring three times in the first four innings which left Texas cornered and challenged to respond — which the Rangers did.

After tossing three scoreless innings, Red Sox starter Tanner Houck collided with a momentum-altering disaster. Texas pulled the carpet out from underneath Boston as Jonah Heim and Leody Taveras — the No. 8 and No. 9 hitters — went back-to-back with a three-run home run and a solo homer, respectively, giving the Rangers a 4-3 lead. That came with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. From there, the run-generating rally reappeared in the sixth inning, giving Texas every bit of momentum needed to stiff-arm any chance of a Red Sox comeback bid.

Red Sox reliever Brennan Bernardino, who manager Alex Cora called upon to take the mound following Houck’s five-plus innings of work, too, struggled. After rookie outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela made a tremendous play by gunning out Josh Jung at home plate, Bernardino miscommunicated with Boston’s infield on a pick-off attempt. That allowed both Rangers runners to advance to second and third, ultimately turning a one-run deficit into a three-run deficit.

The Red Sox went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position, leaving 10 runners stranded on the base path.

Boston did itself no justice on a night where the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles, who sit first and second, respectively, in the division standings, both won. Even though the gap between Boston and New York and Baltimore is a feasible 6 1/2 games, Boston will need to spark a sharp turn of the page, and soon, to keep its postseason hopes alive. But for now, the post-All-Star break cold stretch (5-9) carries on.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Heim only needed one swing of the bat to even up the score for the Rangers in the fourth inning. The Texas catcher went 2-for-4 at the plate.

— Red Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder went yard in back-to-back at-bats, giving Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford problems early. Refsnyder finished the night 4-for-4 at the plate with a walk, responsible for driving in three runs for Boston.

— Rangers All-Star closer Kirby Yates recorded the final four outs needed to put the Red Sox away and send Texas back to the win column.

ON DECK AT NESN
The Red Sox will wrap up their three-game series in Texas on Sunday afternoon. First pitch from Globe Life Field is scheduled for 2:35 p.m. ET, and you can catch the game, plus a full hour of pregame coverage, live on NESN.