Baseball Math 101: Lackey + Bullpen + No Offense = 11-4 Red Sox Loss To Rangers

John Lackey struggled (I'm trying to be kind) and his immediate replacement Felix Doubrount didn't fare a whole lot better in a 7-run 6th inning that basically put the game out of reach for the Red Sox who were being shutout until Marco Scutaro singled in two runs in the bottom of the 7th as the Rangers clubbed Boston 11-4 in the final game of the series and the homestand.

NOTES -

The loss, combined with the Yankee victory over Toronto (yet another year when the Blue Jays go from April Contender to September Pretender) drops the Red Sox 2 games behind New York in the (say it with me) "all-important loss column" with 23 games to play. It's the furthest the Red Sox have been out of 1st place since July 5.

The Red Sox played a little short-handed. Jed Lowrie was technically available to play but was on the bench due to tightness in his left shoulder. Player and team are trying to avoid yet another extended absence for Lowrie. Josh Reddick was out of the lineup with a bruise after being hit on the hand in Saturday's win.

Conor Jackson started the game in right field but was taken out in the 6th inning after crashing into the wall in front of the Red Sox bullpen while chasing a fly ball. It appeared he injured any combination of hand, arm and knee; early reports said it was a bruised right knee. Either way, based upon the visual of Jackson hitting the wall, he's going to be very sore for at least a couple of days.