BOSTON — Mike Napoli hit two of Texas’ six home runs Tuesday night and the Rangers romped past the Boston Red Sox 18-3 for their fifth straight victory.
Josh Hamilton homered and matched his career high with five RBI. Adrian Beltre, Michael Young and Nelson Cruz also connected for the Rangers.
Texas finished with a season-high 21 hits, tagging Jon Lester for eight of them before Lester was pulled in the third inning. The Rangers provided more than enough run support for Colby Lewis (2-0), who settled down after a shaky start and pitched seven solid innings.
It was the most home runs for the Rangers in a game since they hit six against Detroit in August 2008.
Kevin Youkilis of Boston struck out in all four of his at-bats. He didn’t play Monday because of a minor groin injury on a tense day at Fenway Park – Boston Manager Bobby Valentine had apologized for remarks that criticized Youkilis.
The Rangers scored four times in the second and added three in the third for a 7-2 lead.
They broke it open with an eight-run eighth that included a three-run homer by Hamilton, and shots by Beltre and Cruz. The inning came to an end when Beltre flied out and fans gave the Red Sox a series of mock cheers.
The Rangers had long since ruined any thoughts fans may have had about celebrating Fenway’s 100th anniversary a few days early.
Texas chased Lester (0-2) in the third after his control struggles left the bases loaded and nobody out. Lester threw 49 pitches in the second, and allowed seven runs on eight hits and walked four. His ERA more than doubled, going from 2.40 to 5.82.
The night had a promising start for Boston when the first three Red Sox got hits off Lewis. Mike Aviles led off with a single, then Dustin Pedroia homered.
It was a short-lived lead.
Cruz doubled with one out in the second and Napoli homered over the Green Monster. The Rangers added two before Young, who led off the inning by striking out, ended it with a grounder to first. Young was the only Texas player not to reach base in the inning.
Lewis was starting in place of rookie Yu Darvish, who was pushed back in the rotation so he could have four days of rest between starts. He allowed just the two runs on Pedroia’s homer, struck out seven and didn’t walk anybody.
Adrian Gonzalez added a solo homer for Boston in the eighth.
NOTES: Texas first baseman Mitch Moreland returned to the club after having surgery on an infected abscessed tooth, causing him to miss two games. Derek Holland (1-0) is scheduled to start tonight against Boston right-hander Josh Beckett (1-1). Boston outfielder Carl Crawford had four at-bats in an extended spring-training game in Florida for his first playing time since having surgery on his left wrist. Valentine said Crawford walked once, made contact the other three times and felt good afterward. Valentine said there’s no timetable for the return of center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who is out with a partially separated right shoulder. Valentine let it slip that the Red Sox will be wearing throwback uniforms Friday against the Yankees on the 100th anniversary of the first game at Fenway Park.
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