Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 20th 2023
The Texas Rangers will attempt to make it back-to-back victories over the Boston Red Sox when the teams wrap up a three-game series on Wednesday afternoon in Arlington, Texas.
After Boston opened the series with a 4-2 victory on Monday, Texas ended a four-game losing streak by winning 6-4 on Tuesday. The win moved the Rangers (83-68) within one-half game of the first-place Houston Astros (84-68) in the American League West. The Seattle Mariners are also 83-68.
Mario DeLuca
"Great win," Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. "Great team win, character win ... all those things. A lot of good things the guys did, pitchers, position players, big hits. ... Much-needed win as we all know."
Rookie Josh Jung broke a 4-4 tie when his seventh-inning single drove in Marcus Semien. It was Jung's second game since returning from a six-week stint on the injured list caused by a fractured left thumb.
"So glad to be back," Jung said. "I don't like sitting there not being able to contribute in any way I can. ...
"We're in the dog days. It's going to be a fight every night."
The Red Sox (75-77) lost for the fifth time in six games as their pitchers walked eight batters on Tuesday.
"At this level (you) can't do that," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "Those guys are gonna keep coming and coming. (Corey) Seager, Semien, all those guys. The line keeps moving, they're going to get more at-bats and that's what happens.
"You keep pushing. We still have a chance (at the postseason), a very slight chance. You do everything possible to win the game. The organization deserves that, the players do, too, and obviously the fan base. We're going to do our best to win ballgames. As many as possible."
Right-hander Brayan Bello (12-9, 3.71 ERA) is scheduled to make the start for Boston on Wednesday. Bello recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts in his latest start, a 3-0 loss at Toronto on Friday night. He pitched six innings and limited the Blue Jays to four hits, but one of those hits was a three-run home run by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Bello has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his past six starts, and has a 4-2 record during that span.
"Throughout the season he's been our most consistent starter," Cora said. "Not too many people are talking about him throughout the league, but when you look up the innings and the (wins) and the ERA and all that stuff, it has been a solid season for him. He's gonna keep getting better."
Bello is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two career starts against Texas. He limited the Rangers to two runs on eight hits in seven innings during a 4-2 home win on July 5.
Right-hander Jon Gray (8-8, 4.05 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for Texas. Gray was the losing pitcher on Friday as Texas fell 12-3 to the Cleveland Guardians. He gave up three runs on seven hits and walked two in 3 2/3 innings.
Gray has allowed at least three earned runs in each of his past five starts and in seven of his past nine. He has a 5.72 ERA during that stretch.
In two career starts against Boston, Gray has a 1-1 record with a 3.38 ERA. He lost to Bello on July 5 after yielding four runs, three earned, on nine hits in six innings.
--Field Level Media
Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Recap SEP 20TH 2023
Adolis Garcia hit his 35th home run of the season and scored twice to help the Texas Rangers end a four-game losing streak with a 6-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas.
Jonah Heim had two doubles and two RBIs for the Rangers (83-68), who moved within one-half game of the first-place Houston Astros (84-68) in the American League West.
The Rangers broke a 4-4 tie by scoring twice in the seventh inning. Josh Jung drove in Marcus Semien with a single off John Schreiber to make it 5-4, and then Corey Seager scored when Heim drew a bases-loaded walk. Both runs were charged to reliever Chris Murphy (1-2).
The Red Sox (75-77) were held to five hits as they lost for the fifth time in six games.
Texas reliever Aroldis Chapman (6-4) earned the win after pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings. He didn't give up a hit or a walk while striking out three. Jose Leclerc retired the Red Sox in order in the ninth to collect his third save.
Garcia homered in the second inning to hand the Rangers a 1-0 lead, but Boston responded with three runs in the third. Bobby Dalbec tied the game by scoring on a Justin Turner groundout, and Masataka Yoshida followed with a two-run single that drove in Luis Urias and Rafael Devers to make it 3-1.
Texas pulled within a run in the fifth when a Semien single scored Leody Taveras, and the Rangers took a 4-3 lead by scoring twice with two outs in the sixth. Garcia walked and scored on a Heim double, and then Taveras drove in Heim with a single.
The game was tied 4-4 after Seager's throwing error at shortstop allowed Dalbec to score from second in the seventh.
The Rangers' two-run seventh included two hits, two walks and a hit batter.
Texas manager Bruce Bochy was ejected by plate umpire Ben May in the seventh inning following a walk to Urias.
--Field Level Media