No comeback necessary: Sox trounce Texas

Sox 8, Texas 3
WP: Buchholz (1-1)
LP: Nippert (1-2)
SV: None
HRs: None

SUMMARY:
The Red Sox didn't need to stage another come-from-behind thriller this afternoon at Fenway - a run-of-the-mill blowout was on the menu for this Patriot's Day affair; Boston scored all 8 runs off Texas reliever Dustin Nippert in the 4th & 5th innings and cruised to the 4-game series sweep.

Superstar: Clay Buchholz 6IP, 5H, 0ER, 2BB, 6K
The young righty had his best start of the season, giving Tito six quality innings of shutout ball while lowering his ERA nearly two full runs in the process (6.75-4.79) in leading his team to the sweep.

The Biggest Loser: Nippert 2.1IP, 9H, 8ER, 4BB, 2K
The Rangers bullpen was atrocious all series, but this performance takes the cake.

RECAP:
Well that was nice for a change.

For the first time in what seems like forever Boston did not need to rely on late-inning heroics to pull out a miraculous victory as the Sox manhandled the Texas bullpen for the 4th consecutive game.

The only reason Texas had to go to the bully so soon was because starter Kason Gabbard had to exit the contest after the second inning when a slip on the mound caused his back to stiffen up.

Thus the expected matchup of two former PawSox starters, Gabbard and Buchholz, did not come to be, and my half-joking prediction that Gabbard would probably throw a no-hitter today went down the tubes.

Which was just fine because Buchholz pitched as well as he had since his no-no last September.

After battling to a scoreless tie through 3 1/2, including both teams leaving the bases loaded in the second, Boston broke it open in the bottom of the 4th shortly after Dustin "Don't call me Al" Nippert came in to replace Gabbard.

That 4th inning played out like a Little League game, complete with bloopers, blunders and very few hard hit balls.

Instead of describing what happened, let me run it down for you, blog style:

-JD Drew leads off with a walk, Nippert balks him to 2B
-Jed Lowrie pops up a bunt to SS, he's safe at 1st, Drew to 3B
-Lugo singles just past Nippert's hand, Drew scores Boston's 1st run
-Kevin Cash, playing for Tek, hits a soft liner to Ian Kinsler at 2nd, he throws to 1st to double off a leaning Lugo, but the ball goes down the line and Lowrie scores, Lugo to 2B (2-0 BOS)
-Thurston pops out to short
-Ellsbury hits an infield single to SS as Lugo hops over the bounding ball; Ellsbury then steals 2B uncontested
-Pedroia laces a double to right center field, the hardest hit ball of the inning, to drive in both Lugo and Ellsbury (4-0 BOS)
-Big Papi skies a ball to deep left that appears playable for Milton Bradley, until he ducks for cover at the last minute as he loses it in the bright sunlight. It falls in for a double as Pedroia scampers home with run #5
-Youk walks
-Drew walks to load the bases
-Lowrie strikes out just as the marathoners enter Kenmore Square

When the carnage was over Boston had scored 5 runs on 5 hits, 3 walks, an error, a balk and a highlight reel worthy blooper in an 1/2 inning that saw Nippert throw 41 pitches and took 29 minutes to complete.

In case the game didn't appear to be over at that point, Boston tacked on three more runs in the 5th, with one run coming in on a double by Ellsbury (2-4, 2R, BI, BB) and the other two scoring on a legitimate double by Ortiz, marking his 11 ribbies of the series.

I'd say he's out of his slump.

Then again the Rangers pitchers can get anyone out of a slump. Boston racked up a dozen hits in this game and also walked 11 times. In fact every Boston batter reached base at least twice except Thurston, and five batters reached at least 3 times.

By the time Texas struck for a pair of runs off David Aardsma and Javier Lopez in the 7th it was much too little, way too late, and even an RBI double by Josh Hamilton off Manny Delcarmen in the 9th couldn't dampen the spirits of the Nation who had just witnessed a sweet, rare 4-game sweep at home on Marathon Monday.

Alas it's no rest for the weary as the AL West-leading Angels come to town tomorrow night.

But at least this Patriots Day was worth celebrating, even though the festivities started early instead of late.

NOTES:
-No Manny: Despite his 2nd inning ejection yesterday, Francona decided to rest Manny anyway as previously planned. His replacement, Joe Thurston, was the only member of the team not to record a hit (0-5). Sean Casey also got the day off, as Youk moved back to 1B and Lowrie manned the hot corner

-Tek sick: for just the second time this season Jason Varitek did not catch when someone other than Tim Wakefield was on the mound. he reportedly was feeling under the weather. NESN broadcaster Jerry Remy was also ailing, prompting a stint in the booth by former As skipper Ken "paint dry" Macha

-Lugo on fire: the shortstop went 4-4 with a walk and is batting .346 (17-49) over his last 13 games, raising his average from .238 to .314

RECORD: 14-7
STREAK: W5
LST 10: 9-1
AL EAST: Up 2 gms
UP NEXT: Tue vs. LAA 7PM Weaver vs. Beckett