The Rangers beat Boston 6-2, winning two of the three games of the series, on the strength of six strong innings from Martin Perez, who allowed one earned run. Prince Fielder hit his seventh home run of the season. Little did he know, he would hit just one more.

*****

THEY CAME BEARING RUNS.
Originally published June 27, 2016.

Last year, the Boston Red Sox finished in last place in the American League East on the strength of their horrible starting pitching and bad bullpen.

To address their rotation, they signed David Price to a $217 million dollar contract. Suddenly, they had a one-man rotation.

Luckily for them, out of nowhere they found knuckleballer Steven Wright. He has actually been more of a savior to their otherwise horrible staff than Price. But he is a knuckleballer. You feel as secure running a knuckleball pitcher out every fifth day as you do having your brother-in-law do your taxes.

The Red Sox also bolstered their bad bullpen by acquiring Craig Kimbrel, probably the best closer in post-Mariano-Rivera baseball history.

But you can’t save too many games trailing by four runs or more in the ninth. Kimbrel, like the Rangers closer Sam Dyson, got the weekend off.

All three Red Sox starters the Rangers faced this series were no match for Texas. David Price is an ace against everybody else but the Rangers. He’s now 3-5 against Texas in the regular season, with an ERA of 7.68 in Arlington.

Steven Wright was leading the American League in ERA when he hit the mound on Saturday. The Rangers got to him early and often.

Yesterday, the Rangers beat up on former quality starter Clay Buchholz and the rest of the Red Sox bullpen for six runs.

Take away the epic fail of the Rangers bullpen in Friday’s game, and Texas would have swept Boston in pretty dominating fashion. Texas scored 23 runs in three games, with thirty-seven hits.

They went to bat with the bases loaded nine times in three games.

So, on behalf of Texas Rangers hitters, I want to thank the Boston Red Sox for all the hits, runs and errors.

A better slump busting team does not exist.