The Boston Red Sox will have a chance to win their first home series since early April when they face the Texas Rangers on Saturday afternoon.
Boston opened the three-game series with a 10-1 win Friday night. Willson Contreras, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela homered for the Red Sox, who ended a four-game losing streak.
Boston is 1-8-1 in its 10 series at Fenway Park this season. The Red Sox secured their lone series win on April 8, when they won the rubber game of a three-game set against Milwaukee.
April 7-8 also is the last time Boston won home games on consecutive days.
“It feels awesome,” Rafaela told WEEI following Friday night’s win. “Off-day (Thursday). Came in today and did the job right here at home. We have to keep winning ballgames here.
“Last year we played good at home. I think if we do that from today on we’re going to be in a good spot. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Nine of Boston’s 12 hits Friday went for extra bases (six doubles, three homers).
“After a rough road trip (1-4) to come here at home and win the first one is really cool,” Abreu said. “It means a lot to us and the fans.”
Texas was limited to six hits and didn’t score after the first inning Friday. Joc Pederson and Wyatt Langford each collected two hits.
“The game started out really good,” Texas manager Skip Schumaker said. “We had a couple hits right out of the gate, scored a run and came out feeling pretty good about ourselves.
“The first inning was a sign it wasn’t going to go well (for Texas pitcher Jack Leiter) with the first-batter walk, and just couldn’t find his fastball. He ended up spinning the ball more than usual to get him back into counts and get through some innings. The second, third and fourth innings were better, but the high pitch count got him out of there after the fifth inning. We just couldn’t put anything together tonight.”
Leiter (3-6) gave up six runs (five earned) and eight hits over five innings.
Saturday’s pitching matchup will feature Texas right-hander Jacob deGrom (5-4, 3.18 ERA) and Boston left-hander Ranger Suarez (2-3, 3.18).
deGrom is 0-2 with a 2.40 ERA in five career games against Boston, striking out 41 in 30 innings. Suarez is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two career games against Texas.
Texas outfielder Evan Carter left Friday’s game in the fifth inning with oblique tightness. He was injured while making a diving catch.
“We’ll find out more (Saturday) after he wakes up and sees what the soreness feels like,” Schumacher said. “Those are tricky, as we know. I’ve never really seen that after a dive. It’s usually after a check swing or a swing. Hopefully it’s better news (Saturday), but you never know with these things.”
The Rangers also were without shortstop Corey Seager on Friday. He was held out of the game because of soreness that resulted from a collision at home plate in a game against Kansas City on Thursday.
“He’s a little banged up,” Schumaker said. “Ribs, jaw. Kind of felt like (Friday) was a good day to be off. He’s day-to-day.”
–Field Level Media
