Rangers Rout Red Sox

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ARLINGTON, Texas — In a perfect world, Texas Rangers right-hander Alex Gonzalez would have spent the entire season in Triple-A.

But with an injury in the starting rotation, Texas needed their former first-round pick now, and he didn’t disappoint.

Gonzalez won his major-league debut, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning and was boosted by the bottom of the Rangers’ lineup that accounted for six RBIs in an 8-0 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night.

Gonzalez (1-0) did not give up a run and allowed two hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings.

When it was his time to leave with two outs in the sixth, manager Jeff Banister told him to savor the moment.

“He was getting ready to hand me the ball and I said, ‘no, no, you can wait,'” Banister said. “I told him what a great job he did for us and how special it was. I asked him to listen to the noise of the crowd.

“I said, ‘That’s for you. It’s getting ready to get real loud. Don’t ever forget this.'”

Center fielder Leonys Martin, the No. 7 hitter, was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. No. 8 hitter Robinson Chirinos had

a two-run double in a four-run fourth and second baseman Hanser Alberto, the No. 9, added two RBIs.

Shortstop Elvis Andrus had a two-run double in the first inning for Texas, which is 10-3 in its last 13 games.

“I was nervous, but I controlled what I could control,” Gonzalez said. “Try to control your breathing, listen to yourself breathe. I had to do that a couple of times.”

Boston has lost five of its last six games.

Rangers leadoff hitter DeLino DeShields was 3-for-5 in Texas’ 13-hit attack. First baseman Adam Rosales had a career-high four hits.

Boston left-hander Wade Miley (4-5) suffered the loss after giving up six runs (five earned), nine hits and two walks.

Boston was hurt by three errors. After winning the opener of the four-game series, the Red Sox displayed little resolve in losing two straight.

Chirinos’ double was a playable ball, but Boston center fielder Rusney Castillo misplayed it into a two-run double.

“That was not a good display of baseball,” Boston manager John Farrell said. “We need to play with the aggressiveness that we’ve shown in games and we’ve shown for stretches of time. But that has been extremely inconsistent.”

Right-hander Tanner Scheppers and left-handers Sam Freeman and Alex Claudio pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for Texas (25-25).

Designated hitter David Ortiz was 2-for-4 for Boston (22-28).

First baseman Mike Napoli’s double to right was Boston’s first hit off Gonzalez, who left with two outs in the sixth and a 6-0 lead.

Gonzalez, a first-round pick in 2013, struggled with his command but was the beneficiary of good defense behind him. He also had a chance to help himself with his glove.

Gonzalez reached high to snag a chopper and catch Ortiz in a rundown between third and home in the sixth.

“I feel great,” Gonzalez said. “I went as long as I could. Even though I didn’t finish the inning, walking off to that cheering, that loudness was awesome.

“It kind of hit me right then and there, ‘Wow, I’m actually doing this.'”

After scoring a run in the first on shortstop Andrus’ double, the Rangers batted around in the fourth.

Chirinos’ double scored right fielder Josh Hamilton and Rosales. Martin scored on Alberto’s fielder’s choice. Shortstop Brock Holt tried to get Martin at the plate, but his throw was wide.

DeShields’ squeeze bunt brought in a hard-charging Chirinos from third.

“I thought we were tentative on defense and that contributed into that four-run inning,” Farrell said.

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