Napoli powers Rangers past Red Sox
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Mike Napoli continued his recent power surge, finishing 3-for-4 with a homer and four runs batted in as the Texas took a 6-3 decision to sweep Boston in a two-game set.
Josh Hamilton was also 3-for-4 and had an RBI and a run scored, while Derek Holland (2-0) went seven strong innings, allowing two runs on fours hits and three walks with seven strikeouts for the Rangers, who have won six straight to open the season 10-2.
Josh Beckett (1-2) suffered the loss despite retiring the final 12 batters he faced. He gave up three runs on seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over seven frames. Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run blast in the losing effort, the Red Sox's third in a row.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Napoli gave Texas the lead in the fourth inning with his third homer in two games, a resounding blast into the seats in left with David Murphy aboard to make it 3-2.
Napoli increased the Rangers' advantage in the eighth. Franklin Morales spelled Beckett and gave up a single and two walks -- one intentional -- before bringing Hamilton home by hitting Craig Gentry on the foot with a pitch. Napoli then laced a two-run double off the wall for a 6-2 edge.
The Red Sox threatened in the bottom of the ninth. Joe Nathan walked Cody Ross and Youkilis reached second two batters later on Adrian Beltre's throwing error. Pinch-hitter Ryan Sweeney knocked in Ross with a single before a sensational play by Brandon Synder.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}With Jarrod Saltalamacchia pinch-hitting, Snyder jumped to snare a liner down the first base line. Sweeney was running on the apparent extra-base hit, so Synder jogged to first for the game-ending unassisted double play.
Boston opened the scoring in the second. After David Ortiz doubled, Youkilis lifted Holland's 2-2 sinker over the Green Monster.
Josh Hamilton trimmed Texas' deficit to 2-1 on an infield single in the third, plating Kinsler. The Red Sox escaped further damage because Elvis Andrus was caught trying to stretch a base hit off the left-field wall into a double, and Beckett got out of the 32-pitch inning with a strikeout of Nelson Cruz.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
It was the fourth home run of the season for Napoli...Hamilton has 12 RBI...Boston continues a nine-game homestand by welcoming the Yankees on Friday...Texas concludes a nine-game road trip with a four-game set at Detroit beginning Thursday.