Sox drop 2nd straight in Texas to fall to 2-3

Sox Box
Rangers 8, Sox 4
WP: Millwood (1-1)
LP: Tavarez (0-1)
HRs:TEX- Sosa (1)

(*note: I did not post on the Sox 2-0 loss to Texas on Friday because I have been out all weekend. From what I gathered from Edes I was better off not witnessing that debacle.)

SUMMARY:
Despite being staked to an early 2-run lead, Julian the Human Gascan Tavarez performed his usual pyrotechnics and torched that advantage quicker than you can say "I'm a hot-tempered Dominican who forgot how to pitch 5 years ago."

Gascan gave up the lead in a four-run Texas 3rd and for good measure J.C. Romero allowed Sammy Sosa's first home run in 2 years, a solo shot in the 8th, and the Sox continue to struggle, falling below .500 on the young season.

HERO: Millwood 6IP, 8H, 3R, 3BB, 3K
The artist formerly known as Kevin Millwood made a brief appearance in Arlington tonight as the veteran righty shook of a troubling first inning to hold the scuffling Boston lineup in check.

GOAT: C'mon, do ya even have to ask? Sing it with me now, "who is the man that can melt away the leads, the Gascan can, oh the Gascan can"

REVIEW:
Amid all the giddiness surrounding Jonathan Papelbon's return to the closer role just before the start of the season I, and possibly many other members of the Nation, lost sight of the horrific fact that Julian Tavarez would now be counted on to go out there every five days and attempt to procure a victory for this team.

That short-sightedness came in to focus quickly tonight in Texas as the man who seemed to blow every single game he entered last season as a reliever continued that trend right over to his first start of the year. For the third time in the first five games the Sox scored in the first inning, yet Tavarez, like Schill on Opening day, couldn't carry that momentum into the later innings. Although the blowing of the lead wasn't entirely his fault.

Boston grabbed the quick 1-0 lead in the first (unlike yesterday's shutout when the team wasn't even ready for the introductions, let alone the game), thanks to the red-hot bat of Mr. J.D. Drew (2-5, R, RBI), who had a Jekyll & Hyde-type game. After Youk and Papi singled and Manny forced pai at second, Drew singled to left, scoring Youk but Manny was out by Brad Wilkerson trying to take third. The Sox tacked on another run in the second thanks to an RBI single by Lugo, but that would be the last time the Sox would enjoy a lead on the evening.

The game began to unravel in the 3rd; after Jerry Hairston Jr. walked to lead off, underrated hitting machine Michael Young roped a double into the rightfield corner. This is when the Mr. Hyde part of Drew's night came into play. The ball rolled around the corner past Drew, and by the time he tracked it down Hairston was on the bench sipping Gatorade and Young had motored around the bases to score the tying run on a double & 2-base, 2-run error. Yikes!

It got worse from there as the Rangers turned 3 singles, a walk and a passed ball into two more runs and a 4-2 lead by the end of the inning. Tavarez was gone by the time Tek's deep double scored Drew, who had singled for the second time, cut the lead to 4-3 in the 6th, but Kyle Snyder came in and immediately allowed a double to Hairston, then Romero took over for Snyder and allowed 3 runs including Sosa's 589th career longball. This one was possibly even 'roid free.

The Boston bats continued their early season slumber. The team is batting a robust .244, and guys like Manny (.235), Papi (.167), Coco (.125) and Tek (.143) have yet to find the groove. Ironically the bulk of the Boston offense is coming from Drew (.412) and Pedroia (.333), two of the last guys expected to be the best and most productive hitters on this team. But, like I said, it's early- no need to panic. Besides, the return to baseball to Fenway Tuesday will be the magic elixir that will awaken this team from its daze and get things on the right track.

Unless it's snowing in Beantown.

RECORD: 2-3
GB: - 1/2

UP NEXT: Boston will try to salvage a game here in the chilly heartland when Schilling takes the mound against Vincente Padilla for the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball game. Something tells me the cold evening and Boston's colder bats plus Schill's desire to atone for his opening stinkbomb could make for a tight, low-scoring game. Let's just hope it's the Sox who benefit from the bloopers, check-swing RBI singles and 2-base errors for a change.