The Boston Red Sox followed up their Opening Day victory with a 4-1 loss to the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field.
Boston fell to 1-1 while Texas improved to 1-1.
The Red Sox struggled again with their top four hitters in the lineup and failed to produce with runners on base. Boston waited until the ninth inning Thursday to break the game open with a lead and salvaged just one run on eight hits Friday evening to even the series.
Here are four knee-jerk reactions from Boston’s loss:
Wilyer Abreu Stays Hot
Make it seven straight plate appearances Abreu reached base to start the season. He drove in another run on an RBI hit to tie the score in the fourth inning.
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The Rangers finally retired the Red Sox outfielder to lead off the ninth inning.
Kristian Campbell Hits Hard
Kristian Campbell picked up his first MLB hit in the ninth inning of Thursday’s win. The heralded Red Sox prospect looked much more comfortable at the plate Friday and picked up a pair of hits in his first two at-bats. His second hit off Texas starter Jack Leiter fired off the bat at over 100 MPH.
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Strikeouts Continue For Devers
It’s still early, so hold off on the panic button for now. But the Red Sox certainly didn’t expect Rafael Devers to start the season 0-for-8 at the plate with seven strikeouts.
Devers’ consequential at-bat ended in another swinging strikeout when the Boston left the bases loaded, trailing by three runs in the seventh inning.
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Sure, he had plenty of swings on the backfields, but the reality is Devers only had 15 plate appearances during spring training. That lack of real-game at-bats is on display so far. He’s too good of a hitter for this to become a prolonged trend, but there probably will be an adjustment period for the Red Sox slugger in the first few weeks of the regular season.
Tanner Houck Loses Steam
Houck gave up plenty of loud contact during spring training. He returned to the mound where he made his first All-Star appearance last season in Texas. His only blemishes for the majority of the night came on a pair of solo home runs from Jonah Heim.
The Red Sox starter did falter in the sixth inning when he surrendered a pair of two-out runs that stretched the lead for the Rangers.
Houck allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
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Featured image via Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images
