The Texas Rangers finally held onto a lead and avoided a second consecutive sweep with a 3-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night.
In snapping their six-game losing skid, the Rangers received a solid start from left-hander C.J. Wilson (1-1), who threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed four hits with two strikeouts for his first win of the season.
With the game scoreless going into the seventh, Texas eventually found its way against Boston starter Clay Buchholz (1-2), who lasted 6 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on six hits with 10 strikeouts.
In the seventh, Josh Hamilton led off with a double and Nelson Cruz followed with an RBI single. Cruz then stole second and scored on a double from David Murphy. Murphy came home on a successful, two-out bunt from Andres Blanco as the Rangers took a 3-0 lead.
After surrendering four-run leads the past two nights, the Rangers bullpen was able to make that lead stand. Darren O’Day and Darren Oliver finished the game with 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
Texas | Boston | |
C.J. Wilson | Player | Clay Buchholz |
Win | W/L | Loss |
6.2 | IP | 6.2 |
2 | Strikeouts | 10 |
4 | Hits | 6 |
0.00 | ERA | 4.05 |
Texas | Boston | |
Nelson Cruz | Player | Victor Martinez |
2 | Hits | 2 |
1 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
2 | TB | 2 |
.667 | Avg | .667 |