With both starting pitchers chased from the game in the sixth inning, the fate of Friday's season opener betwen the Red Sox and the Rangers was left in the hands of the bullpens. For Boston, that was unfortunate.
The Red Sox, who trailed 5-4 from the fourth inning on, managed to tie it in the top of the eighth on a David Ortiz solo home run -- the 350th career homer for Big Papi. But then the bottom of the eighth happened.
In the bottom of the frame, Daniel Bard entered, and after getting a flyout from the leadoff batter, proceeded to allow a career-high four runs on four hits while recording just two outs. The scoring begin with former Red Sox' David Murphy's double to left field that was so close to being foul it kicked up chalk as it landed and got past Carl Crawford. Elvis Andrus drove him in two batters latter with a gap-finding double to right center, giving the Rangers an 8-5 lead. A Josh Hamilton double to right made it 9-5, and chased Bard from the game.
The Rangers' bullpen did the work after C.J. Wilson departed in two outs in the sixth: the combination of Mark Lowe, Arthur Rhodes, Darren Oliver and Neftali Feliz held the Red Sox to just one run -- Ortiz's homer -- through the final 3.1 innings.
Game two of the series with the Rangers is set for Saturday night at 8:05 p.m. ET.