Takeaways: Boston Red Sox Lose Stunner To Texas Rangers 9-7 In Series Finale

The Boston Red Sox took the first two games in the home series against the Texas Rangers, but a bullpen collapse prevented them from taking the sweep.

Tanner Houck threw 6.2 strong innings allowing just two earned runs, but Luis Garcia, Josh Winckowski and Zack Kelly allowed seven total runs out of the bullpen in the 9-7 extra innings loss.

What are the main takeaways from Boston's game three loss to Texas?

Houck gave the team what they needed

Houck has been trending in the wrong direction his past few starts, but he looked like his first half self today. He gets credited with a no decision and earned a lot more than what his final line suggests.

He allowed just six hits and two walks to go along with the two ERs and struck out three. His stuff didn’t look as electric as it has in his best starts but he was able to grind out a quality start and lower his ERA to 3.01.

Bullpen fell flat once again

It was the same story on a different night for the Red Sox bullpen, melting down three different times and surrendering two leads.

Garcia, Winckowski and Kelly all continued their recent downward spirals and were unable to maintain the game despite clutch hits from the Boston offense.

Right-handed hitters producing

Games like these leave a bad taste in just about everyone’s mouth, but one major positive was how impressive Romy Gonzalez and Danny Jansen continue to look.

While it eventually became inconsequential, they combined for four RBIs; three of which broke the 8th inning tie and provided insurance runs. Jansen has been a very welcome addition to a succeeding offense and Gonzalez’s breakout season keeps elevating in stature.

The Red Sox are now 63-56 on the season.

Game 1

The Red Sox will face the Baltimore Orioles next in a four-game series, with the first game scheduled for 6:35 PM EST at Camden Yards, televised on NESN.