Farrell has words with the umpire (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

The Red Sox lost 7-4 to the Texas Rangers last night, evening the series at one apiece. As strange as this may sound, it was somewhat comforting to have a “normal loss”. It seems like this season all of the Red Sox losses have been in heartbreaking fashion, or the cause of the loss is part of a bigger persistent problem that seems like it’ll never get better. This loss was neither.

Steven Wright had a “normal” start for a knuckler, giving up 3 earned in 5.2 innings pitched, was victimized by a couple of knucklers that didn’t knuckle sufficiently, and one that knuckled too much. Josh Hamilton went deep twice, and another run scored on a wild pitch.

Swihart‘s bat continues to come along nicely. He had an RBI single to tie the game at 2 in the 4th and is now slashing .375/.444/.375 in his last five games. Gotta get those power numbers up, but it seems like he’s figuring out Major League pitching. I also haven’t heard anything bad about his game calling or handling of the staff, so I take that to be a good sign – he’s doing an adequate job at worst.

The bullpen was shaky in this one, with Alexi Ogando and Craig Breslow both getting tagged for runs in their appearances. Breslow has struggled in May after a strong start to the season.

Speaking of which, Hanley hit a two-run, opposite field job to bring the Red Sox within one in the top of the 8th (5-4). Apparently Pedey helped him with some video work before this series. Let’s hope he can keep fixing our sluggers one by one. Or maybe he should start holding group sessions.

Later in the 8th, Napoli and Farrell would get tossed for arguing balls and strikes during a Brock Holt at-bat. Earlier in the inning Napoli struck out looking on a borderline pitch and had some rude things to say to the man in the mask. He continued to bark from the dugout and got the heave-ho.

Notes:

-In a shocking move, the Red Sox have announced that Eduardo Rodriguez will get another start. I guess that’s what happens when you have the best rookie debut for a lefthander since 1954. It looks like the Sox will go with a 6 man rotation for another turn.

-Brock Holt! made a great sliding catch in his home state, playing in front of friends and family. That had to feel good.