ARLINGTON, Texas — In a few years, Saturday night’s 4-3 loss against the Rangers might be remembered as the game rookie Kristian Campbell showed off the full breadth of his skills as his agents were working with the Red Sox to complete a contract extension.

For now, it was a dispiriting setback that had some players talking in whispers after the game while others sat at their lockers with their heads down.

On a night where the Rangers were pressed into using six pitchers, the Sox were 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base, five in scoring position.

“The bottom part of the lineup did a good job getting on base. The big boys didn’t cash in,” manager Alex Cora said.

Rafael Devers drew a bases-loaded walk in the second inning but was otherwise 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. He is 0 for 12 with 10 strikeouts, a major league record for the first three games of the season.

He’s not alone in the futility. Triston Casas is 1 for 13 with six strikeouts and Trevor Story 1 for 11.

“We’re just getting beat in the [strike] zone,” Cora said. “We’ve got to be on time with the fastball. … Obviously it’s early. but the big boys are the big boys.”

Walker Buehler won a World Series game the last time he pitched at Globe Life Field, pitching six strong innings for the Dodgers in Game 3 of the neutral site Fall Classic against the Rays in 2020. He returned to that mound to make his Red Sox debut, having left Los Angeles as a free agent in December.

There wasn’t much to celebrate this time.

Buehler could not get out of the fifth inning, allowing four runs on seven hits. Adolis Garcia had a two-run double in the first inning and a solo home run in the fourth.

“Not the start in this uniform that we’re looking for,” Buehler said. “Disappointing. But hopefully we get 30 or 32 [starts].”

Buehler said his problem was throwing his poorest pitches late in counts.

“Hitters typically take advantage of that,” he said.

Cora changed the lineup from the first two games. Jarren Duran moved to center field in place of Ceddanne Rafaela. Campbell shifted from second base to left field. Backup catcher Carlos Narvaéz made his Sox debut subbing for Connor Wong and David Hamilton was at second base.

Campbell had only 31 innings of experience in left field during his time in the minors then 38 more during spring training. As often seems to happen, the ball found him and he nearly made what would have been one of the best catches of the season.

With runners on first and second and two outs in the first inning, Garcia sent a line drive to the gap in left. Campbell didn’t seem to have a chance but he chased the ball down and appeared to make a diving catch.

But the ball popped out of his glove and Garcia had a two-run double.

“The way it was hit, it’s a double and he was closing the gap,” Cora said. “All of a sudden it was, ‘Oh, shoot, he’s going to get it.’ ”

Campbell had it for a split second.

“Very disappointing, especially for me,” Campbell said. “I was definitely frustrated when I picked up my glove after it hit the ground.”

For a career infielder still learning the outfield, it would have been an especially remarkable catch.

“I threw my hands up. I thought he caught it,” Buehler said.

With the Sox down, 2-1, Campbell tied the game with his first career homer leading off the fourth inning. He got a fastball down the middle from Jacob Webb and hit it 431 feet into the visitor’s bullpen just to the left of center field.

The ball had a robust exit velocity of 112.2 m.p.h.

Campbell pumped both fists rounding first then pointed to his family in the stands as he approached third base.

“A lot of energy,” Campbell said. “Happy they got see that. They haven’t seen me hit a home run probably since college. It’s been a minute.”

Campbell, who doubled leading off the sixth inning, confirmed a report from MassLive that he was working on a contract extension.

“They’re talking back and forth, I know that for a fact,” he said. “I’m not sure how close or not close it is.”

The 22-year-old Campbell is 5 of 10 with two extra-base and two walks in three games.

Peter Abraham can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @PeteAbe.