Rangers Lose To Red Sox

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ARLINGTON, Texas — The outing from Boston Red Sox rookie starter was not only special, but historic.

The 22-year-old left-hander upstaged the return of Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton as the Red Sox topped the Rangers 5-1 Thursday night at Globe Life Park.

Rodriguez, a highly-touted prospect, confounded Texas in his major league debut. The hard-thrower went 7 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up only three hits, walking two and striking out seven.

“I wasn’t nervous after the first couple of pitches,” Rodriguez said. “I went out and saw the lights and saw the stadium, and said, ‘This is what it’s like.'”

He became the first pitcher in Red Sox history to debut with at least 7 2/3 shutout innings while striking out at least seven and allowing three or fewer hits, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Rodriguez became the youngest Boston pitcher to win his first-ever road start since 1967, when 21-year-old Billy Rohr threw a one-hit shutout at Yankee Stadium. Rodriguez was also the youngest starter to

begin his Boston pitching career on the road since 21-year-old Roger Clemens in 1985.

“He was outstanding,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “Very impressive, he was poised.”

It was just the kind of performance the slumping Red Sox needed to begin the four-game set at Texas. Boston (22-26) opened its seven-game road trip by getting swept in a three-game series at Minnesota.

The win also evened Boston’s record with Texas this season at 2-2.

The Rangers (23-25) dropped their second in a row after reaching .500 with a seven-game winning streak. Texas, coming off a 7-2 road trip, is 6-14 at home.

The struggles at home are becoming a sore spot for Rangers manager Jeff Banister.

“You’ve got to be able to put an anchor down, a foot down and protect your own house,” he said.

Boston got a home run from designated hitter Hanley Ramirez, who was filling in for David Ortiz, and broke the game open with three runs with two outs in the eighth to open a 5-0 lead. Texas second baseman Adam Rosales contributed to the Red Sox’s late rally by misjudging a ground ball from catcher Blake Swihart, leading to two runs.

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia and center fielder Mookie Betts both went 3-for-5 to lead Boston’s 13-hit attack. Swihart and Ramirez each had two hits.

Rangers starter Nick Martinez (4-1) lost for the first time in 10 starts this season. He did set a club record with his 16th consecutive start in which he allowed three or fewer earned runs.

Hamilton, who was feeling ill, played his first home game since being traded back to Texas in April and went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the ninth. The former MVP who struggled during his time with the Los Angeles Angels enjoyed a standing ovation during his first at-bat and lined the first pitch he saw into the right field corner for a double.

“You have some of your best games sick,” he said. “It helps you focus more, you don’t try to do too much, so it can help you. That’s over with now. Go home and try to get some rest and feel better.”

Hamilton’s double was the only hit against Rodriguez through the first seven innings.

“That was a pretty good arm, pretty good left-handed arm,” Banister said of Rodriguez. “Three quality pitches — 95 mph fastball moved in and out, breaking ball and changeup. Doesn’t help that we hadn’t seen the kid before, but that’s a pretty quality arm right there.”

Texas designated hitter Prince Fielder, the AL batting leader coming into the game, went hitless in four trips to the plate, ending his hitting streak at 10 games.

The Red Sox got on the board first in the fifth inning after stringing three singles together against Martinez.

Swihart opened the inning with a hit, and he scored on Betts’ liner to left. Martinez coaxed an inning-ending double play to limit the damage to one run.

Ramirez doubled Boston’s lead with a solo shot to open the sixth. It was Ramirez’s 11th homer of the season but first since April 29.

Martinez hadn’t given up a homer to a right-handed hitter since last August.

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