A Night for the Recordbooks: Rangers Crush Red Sox 12-5

Ian Kinsler became the only Major League Baseball player to hit lead-off home runs in back-to-back games to start the season. The Texas Rangers played the second of three games against the Boston Red Sox last night in Arlington. Aside from the history-making the Rangers also picked up some jewelry, a couple of other home runs, and a grand slam.

The Texas Rangers were the 2010 American League Champions and were awarded their rings in a pregame ceremony, below is a picture of Josh Hamilton’s ring.

More details follow after the jump

Offense:

Aside from the lead off home run, Ian Kinsler had a double and a walk in the game. Everyone in the Rangers lineup recorded an RBI aside from Michael Young and Mitch Moreland and everyone had a hit on the night.

Elvis Andrus was a Home Run shy of hitting for the cycle, the All Star had a single, a double, and a triple in the game and picked up 2 RBIs. There were homers in the game from Nelson Cruz and newcomer Yorvit Torrealba.

Prized off-season pickup Adrian Beltre hit the season’s first grand slam for the Rangers, and was the third hit in the Majors this season. It was a two hit night for Center-Fielder Julio Borbon, who has been criticized in the media for being played instead of David Murphy in the outfield.

Starting Pitching:

Colby Lewis picked up right where he left off, going a full six innings allowing six hits, but only allowed three runs and four strikeouts. Lewis collected the win the game and looked very good in his season debut.

Bullpen:

Upon Lewis leaving the game the score was 12-3 in favor of Texas, this gave Washington an opportunity to run the more in-experienced of his ‘pen out there. Rule-5 Draft pick Mason Tobin made his season debut, he pitched one inning and gave up two runs. Tobin showed he was able to keep battling and get himself out of trouble. Highly rated prospect Pedro Strop pitched an inning as well, allowing no hits and no runs and picking up two strikeouts. Darren O’Day pitched the ninth inning, who was a nightmare for the Rangers this spring, and did well got through the inning with only one hit and no runs earned.

Opposition:

Most nights five runs should be enough to win the game, however tonight the Boston Red Sox came up short again. John Lackey was rocked, and that may be an understatement, going three and two-thirds innings he gave up 10 hits and nine earned runs. Lackey will now owns an ERA of 22.09, and his early bullpen didn’t do much either.

This was a record setting night for a Red Sox player as well. David Ortiz became the record-holder for most RBIs as a Designated Hitter with 1,004.

Team Effort:

Everyone tonight contributed and it’s like this team never stopped playing baseball, I’ll be at the Ballpark today hoping for a series sweep. The real question will be whether my wife lets me bring the broom to the game.

Todays Game:

1:05pm start Clay Buchholz against the Rangers Matt Harrison.

-Jonathan