The Texas Rangers scored six runs on six hits in the top of the first inning off Tim Wakefield on the way to a 7-2 win over the Boston Red Sox Thursday night.
The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for the American League West division-leading Rangers.
Wakefield (3-8) struck out the first batter of the game but then allowed six straight hits, capped off by a home run from Bengie Molina. Wakefield was charged with seven runs on eight hits in two-plus innings.
Nelson Cruz had three hits and three RBIs for the Rangers and Vladimir Guerrero also had three hits.
The Red Sox bullpen pitched seven scoreless innings but the damage was done by the time Wakefield exited.
Boston’s bats were also silenced by Rangers starter Tommy Hunter (6-0), who scattered five hits in 6 2/3 innings.
J.D. Drew and Bill Hall homered to account for Boston’s runs. The Red Sox opened the second half of the season with 11 players on the disabled list and played without All-Star third baseman Adrian Beltre (hamstring).
Texas | Boston | |
Tommy Hunter | Player | Tim Wakefield |
Win | W/L | Loss |
6.2 | IP | 2.0 |
1 | Strikeouts | 2 |
5 | Hits | 8 |
2.70 | ERA | 27.00 |
Texas | Boston | |
Josh Hamilton | Player | J.D. Drew |
3 | Hits | 2 |
1 | RBI | 1 |
0 | HR | 1 |
6 | TB | 5 |
.750 | Avg | .500 |