Boy, does Fenway Park really play a part in the games played there. The stadium itself really changes the impact on the game played. There was a ball that would have been a home run in any other park except this one, a few doubles (possibly home runs) that were just singles here. Forced plays at second… Yeesh!
I always like playing the Red Sox, because the games themselves always seem to be good games. And this was. It was a good game that the Rangers came out on the short end of. And I’m getting tired of saying that. I want to win these things, not lose them.
I thought Sele was pitching well, but again the wheels fell apart in the middle innings. We just can’t seem to get by the middle innings. I only watched this game in pieces as I was flipping between the game and the regular NBC Thursday night TV stuff. :)
I also wanted to say that I agree with Jim below about Mark McLemore.
Commentary by Jim Meeks:
The Rangers just can’t seem to win back-to-back games anymore.
Since the Rangers swept the Twins (that last game of that series being April 25th), the Rangers have swapped wins and losses and are 4-5.
After winning Wednesday, Thursday became no exception to the recent win-loss rule. Aaron Sele pitched like it was May instead of April. He wasn’t terrible, but he wasn’t effective either. He gave up 3 runs in 5.1 innings against his old mates – and it could have been much worse. He allowed 12 base runners during that span – not including a couple of base runners who reached on Ranger errors.
Offensively, the Rangers didn’t do a whole lot. After I touted Gonzalez yesterday, he woefully struck out 3 times Thursday. The Rangers managed 10 hits and even a small rally in the 9th inning, but they just couldn’t get the job done and lost 3-2.
Something should be said about the play of Mark McLemore. Although he made an error Thursday, he has played pretty well in the field and has been decent with the bat. McLemore was a guy I thought would retire after last season yet he keeps surprising me with his health and talent.