First impressions of the Red Sox 10-3 loss to Texas:
Steven Wright can’t be stellar every night.
Although it’s seemed like it lately, it’s just not possible -- especially with a knuckleball.
He wasn’t even that bad Saturday night. He just didn’t get any help from his defense in the fifth frame.
But there’s no denying he didn’t have his best stuff. But whatever the reason, he couldn’t find consistent command or movement from his knuckler and he gave up some hard hits as a result.
Did he receive a fate worse than he pitched? Yes. But what Boston saw from Wright in his Saturday start is there will be times his go-to pitch is off -- and there’s really no way to work around that.
Boston Red Sox
Hanley Ramirez’s “timing issue” seems to be coming around.
Although he hasn’t necessarily caught fire, Ramirez hit another home run -- once again to right field.
He’s shown more patience at the plate, and not trying to pull every ball out of the yard.
Ramirez doesn’t have everything completely figured out, but his homeruns have been plenty valuable at this point.
Ian Desmond is no joke.
The newly converted centerfielder is 5-for-10 against Boston pitching this series with a run and two RBI.
The ex-Nationals shortstop has good pop and good speed still. He seems to be a lot more comfortable in his new home after hitting .233 for Washington last year with 19 homeruns -- hitting his 13th Saturday night.
For all the criticisms Boston’s bullpen has received, the Rangers’ is definitely worse.
Although there wasn’t the same miraculous comeback witnessed Friday night -- and Boston’s pen wasn’t particularly stellar in the loss -- the Ranger relievers did not look good in the second game of the series.
They put themselves into deep counts right away -- and was lucky Boston’s offense was off.
Boston’s bullpen has its faults -- no question -- but it’s not nearly as bad as the one in Texas.
The Red Sox unfortunately have to rely on Clay Buchholz Sunday.
The bullpen is beaten down once again. The righty is still fighting for his job, so this would be the best time for him to pitch competitively into the sixth inning -- and maybe even longer.