BOSTON (AP) — Boston manager Bobby Valentine commented prior to Jon Lester’s first home start that the Red Sox ace was pitching as well as anybody in baseball, yet had nothing to show for it.

When the game was over, only one of those statements still stood true.

The Rangers battered Lester for seven runs in twoplus innings Tuesday night, including a two-run home run by Mike Napoli, sending the left-hander to an early exit and igniting an 18-3, 21-hit romp of the Red Sox before a subdued crowd at Fenway Park.

Lester (0-2) labored through two trying innings, requiring 49 pitches to make it through the second alone. He allowed eight hits with four walks and two strikeouts, pulled in favor of reliever Scott Atchison after loading the bases to begin the third.

It was the third time in his career, and second as a starter, that Lester has lasted just two innings, this time throwing 80 pitches.

“Good hitters fouled off some good pitches and hit some bad pitches and hit some good pitches. Just one of those deals. It wasn’t very good,” said Lester, referencing Adrian Beltre’s 12-pitch at-bat.

Napoli’s homer, on an 0-2 count in the second, erased an early 2-0 deficit as the Rangers sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four times in the inning.

Josh Hamilton homered and matched his career high with five RBIs. Beltre, Michael Young and Nelson Cruz also connected for Texas, which matched its most home runs in a game since also hitting six against Detroit in August 2008.

“They’re a good hitting team,” Boston catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said. “That’s a team you can’t make a lot of mistakes to.”

It was more than enough support for starter Colby Lewis (2-0), who settled down after a shaky start and finished pitched seven solid innings. The right-hander allowed just two runs on eight hits, walking none and striking out seven.

Texas broke the game open with an eight-run eighth, including a three-run homer by Hamilton and shots by Beltre and Cruz, all coming off Boston reliever Mark Melancon.

The night had a promising start for the Red Sox when their first three batters recorded hits off Lewis. Mike Aviles led off with a single before Dustin Pedroia homered for the early lead.

It was a short-lived lead, though.

Cruz doubled with one out in the second and Napoli homered over the Green Monster, the first of two home runs on the game for the first baseman.

The Rangers added two more before Young, who led off the inning with a strikeout, ended it with a grounder to first. Young was the only Texas player not to reach base in the inning.

Adrian Gonzalez added a solo homer for the Red Sox in the eighth.

Boston star Kevin Youkilis struck out in all four of his atbats. He did not play Monday because of a minor groin injury on a tense day at Fenway Park — Valentine had apologized for remarks that criticized Youkilis.

Notes — Boston outfielder Carl Crawford had four atbats Tuesday 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 is no timetable for the return of outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who is out with a partially separated right shoulder. … Valentine let it slip that the Red Sox will be wearing throwback uniforms on Friday night when they host the Yankees on the 100th anniversary of the first game major league game played at Fenway Park. The Red Sox have not announced anything about the uniforms.