Josh Hamilton, in his first game as a Texas Ranger since 2012, acquitted himself well, going 2-4 with a double and an RBI single, but the Red Sox’ rookie call-up from Pawtucket, Eduardo Rodriguez, put the clamps on the Rangers’ offense to carry Boston to a 5-1 win. The Sox received the 22-year-old Rodriguez from the Baltimore Orioles in 2014 in exchange for Andrew Miller, now 30, who’s currently dominating as the Yankees’ closer. Most sources will tell you that Rodriguez has an okay fastball, but an excellent changeup and a pretty good slider, and he’s a southpaw to boot. And after last night’s performance, there’ll probably be a few claiming that he’s major league ready, and they might not be wrong.

After a 1-2-3 1st inning for Rodriguez, the Sox’ offense started what would become an unfortunate trend in this game by hitting into the first of five double plays on the night. This one, from Blake Swihart, came with men on 1st and 2nd and one out. The excess of twin killings explains, for anyone who might’ve just scanned the box score, how Nick Martinez managed to give up only 2 runs on 9 hits, 2 walks, and a hit batsman.

Forget his first game or his first at-bat – Hamilton hit a double to right field on his very first pitch back in a Rangers uniform, getting a standing ovation that carried through the hit for his trouble. But Rodriguez retired the next ten batters he faced, so the Rangers remained scoreless for the time being.

In the top of the 4th, Xander Bogaerts took himself out of the game. He’d been hit by a pitch on his left hand in the top of the 2nd, tried to play through it, and eventually gave in. Carlos Peguero, recently acquired from the Rangers themselves in exchange for cash considerations, entered the lineup to play left field and Brock Holt shifted to shortstop. This feels like a good time to note that every member of the Red Sox lineup, including Bogaerts, reached base safely. I’d tell you the last time that happened, but I don’t know and I don’t have the time to find out. Maybe I’ll update this post later! Oooooooooooh.

Anyway, the Red Sox were hitting well enough that they had to score eventually, right? Right. In the 5th, Swihart and Dustin Pedroia (3-5 on the night) singled, giving Mookie Betts (also 3-5!) the opportunity he needed to drive in a run with a single of his own to left. The inning, of course, ended with Pablo Sandoval grounding into a double play, but the Sox took the lead 1-0 nonetheless.

After another scoreless inning by Rodriguez, Hanley Ramirez got in on the action, hitting his first home run since April 29th, a solo shot to center on a down-and-in fastball that met the absolute sweet spot of his bat. 2-0, Sox.

With 2 outs in the top of the 8th (after Hanley grounded into yet another double play), and the Sox still up 2-0, the wheels came off for the Rangers. Mike Napoli drew a walk from Tanner Scheppers, and Sam Freeman hit Brock Holt and walked Peguero to load the bases. Freeman then gave up a Swihart one-hopper to the right side that should’ve ended the inning, but it looked like the second baseman, Adam Rosales, tried to be a little too smooth. It skipped right on by his glove, letting two runs score, and counted as a run-scoring single for Blake. Rusney Castillo got in on Rosales’ misfortune with a slow roller that became an infield single, due equally to Castillo’s speed and Rosales’ throw (too close and too fast) over Mitch Moreland’s head. Another run scored, and Boston exited the half-inning up 5-0.

Rodriguez started his half of the 8th with two strikeouts, but walked the 9-hole batter, Robinson Chirinos, on four pitches and gave up a single to Delino DeShields, prompting John Farrell to bring in Tommy Layne to end the inning, which he did, striking out Shin-Soo Choo on three pitches.

Mookie led off the 9th with a triple, but was stranded after yet another double play.

Layne got into a spot of trouble in the 9th, giving up a double to Adrian Beltre and an RBI single to Hamilton, but got Moreland to strikeout, setting up Koji to come in for a one-pitch appearance to secure the final out of the game.

Great win! I don’t trust it. This team has ground me down into even more a pessimist than I already was.

Notes:

• Please watch this video, and follow Jerry’s advice: always be prepared to get cheese on your face. Life lesson.