Texas Rangers vs Boston Red Sox: Rangers Go Big Fly, Rally Past the Red Sox

The Texas Rangers needed a big start to their day and though it didn't look like it after the top half of the first inning, the offense came out swinging.

With the second pitch he saw, second baseman Ian Kinsler smoked a solo home run to left to pull within 2-1 of the Red Sox. He would be joined by outfielder Nelson Cruz, who had a solo shot of his own, and newcomer Mike Napoli who added a three-run shot.

Though the Sox would eventually tie the game at 5-5 in the eighth inning, David Murphy had a big pinch hit two-run double in the home half of the eighth as the Rangers would pull away with a 9-5 win on Friday afternoon in front of 50,146 at Rangers' Ballpark.

There were a lot of doubts on what this Rangers team was going to be able to do against a Red Sox team who most called the best team in baseball. Would they be able to stand up against the giants of the American League?

They fell behind early and rallied. The game was tied and the momentum started to swing a little bit to Boston's favor. But this team didn't quit. Each time Boston seemed to be gaining, the Rangers shut them down and the offense answered the call.

Both left handers, Rangers' C.J. Wilson and Boston's Jon Lester, both ended up with no decisions but only Wilson was able to celebrate at the end of the night.

Wilson went 5.2 innings pitched giving up four runs only two of them earned and struck out six. As for Lester, he went 5.1 innings pitched giving up five runs (all earned) and gave up the three home runs to Kinsler, Cruz, and Napoli.

There were more than one big hit in this game.

You can look at Napoli's three-run shot with the Rangers down 4-2 in the fourth inning or you can look at the two-run double by David Murphy which put the team ahead for good.

All-in-all this was a good effort by the defending American League Champions. It's only one game but it's getting off to a good start that will give this team confidence for the remainder of the series.


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