The Red Sox are now off to an 0-2 start thanks to a horrendous start from starter John Lackey that sent the Red Sox to a 12-5 loss. The Texas Rangers collected ten hits and nine runs off the righty, including a grand slam from Adrian Beltre that chased Lackey from the game with just two outs in the fourth inning.
Ian Kinsler became the first player in major league history to lead off the first two games of a season with a home run, hurting Lackey early on with a long shot to center. While the Rangers looked like they were slowing down in the second, striking out twice, they quickly proved otherwise with extra base hit after extra base hit. Lackey couldn't keep the ball out of the air, and the Rangers hurt him for it.
The wheels really fell off in the fourth, though. With a 3-3 tie and two outs in the inning, Lackey gave up a deep fly ball to Yorvit Torrealba. Jacoby Ellsbury almost managed to make a diving catch that would have ended the inning, but missed by an inch and Torrealba ended up at second base. That began a veritable parade of baserunners. When Josh Hamilton came up with a 5-3 score and men on second and third, the Sox elected to intentionally walk him. In came Adrian Beltre, who made them pay in a hurry, launching a no-doubter grand slam to cap off the inning.
The Red Sox did receive a home run from David Ortiz for a second straight day, as well as one from Jacoby Ellsbury who has kept up his strong spring production. Both Kevin Youkilis and Adrian Gonzalez continued to provide hits too, but there was no overcoming the terrible performance of John Lackey.