BOSTON — The Red Sox couldn’t stick around in the win column.
The Red Sox, who snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over the Rangers on Monday, dropped a 10-7 decision to Texas on Tuesday. Felix Doubront was lit up by the Rangers’ offense.
Jake Peavy will go for Boston in Wednesday’s rubber match. Let’s first glance over some notes from Tuesday’s action.
– Doubront lasted just 2 2/3 innings in the shortest start of his career. The left-hander gave up five earned runs on six hits and three walks, and the last seven batters Doubront faced all reached base.
Doubront’s shortest start before Tuesday’s sloppy performance was a three-inning start against the Oakland Athletics on Sept. 1, 2012.
– Burke Badenhop was shaky in relief. He surrendered four earned runs on five hits over 2 1/3 innings.
“He’s got to dominate the bottom of the strike zone, and when he doesn’t, that’s when he’s been hurt,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “He’s got such good action to his fastball when it’s middle of the zone or down, but there’s been a number of pitches that have been up in the zone and that’s when he’s had his troubles.”
– Brandon Workman did a nice job of settling things down upon entering in the sixth inning. He gave up just one run on two hits over four innings while striking out three.
Workman learned after the game he’ll head to Triple-A as the Red Sox activate left-hander Craig Breslow from the 15-day disabled list.
– The Red Sox’s offense again squandered several opportunities. In fact, Boston had 14 hits to Texas’ 13.
The leadoff hitter reached for Boston in eight of nine innings. The Red Sox grounded into five double plays, though — their most in a game since July 29, 2012.
“Once we’re down five (runs), even though we got a number of leadoff hitters on base, we’ve got to be a little bit protective of just giving away outs and it was the ground ball double play that snuffed everything out,” Farrell said.
The franchise record is six double plays, which the Sox have done three times.
“Pitcher’s best friend. But early in the season, you want to look at the positive side of things,” outfielder Jonny Gomes said. “Five double plays and you score seven runs. I’m sure that’s pretty rare too. … I think we’re scratching the surface on some things on the positive side.”
– Mike Napoli, A.J. Pierzynski and Grady Sizemore each had three hits. Napoli and Pierzynski each had three hits Monday, too.
– Jackie Bradley Jr. collected two hits and is hitting .500 (6-for-12) with two doubles and four RBIs over his last three games.
Could that force the manager to consider batting him leadoff?
“I wouldn’t close the door on it,” Farrell said. “But (we’re) just letting him settle in and get his legs under him, and he’s doing a good job right now.”
– The Red Sox are 15-30 against the Rangers since 2009. That’s their worst record against any American League team in that span.
