While they weren't able to match the four consecutive bombs hit by the Arizona Diamondbacks recently, the Red Sox got three straight home runs from David Ortiz, Adrian Beltre and J.D. Drew off Texas Rangers starter Tommy Hunter and have staked Boston to a 8-2 lead in the fourth.
Hunter, who was pulled following the Drew blast to right field, lasted just three innings, allowing six hits, four runs, and no walks while failing to record a strikeout.
Coincidentally, all four runs given up by Hunter were solo homers, including Boston second baseman Jed Lowrie's blast in the second and the back-to-back-to-back jacks in the fourth.
On a blistering hot day at the ballpark in Arlington, Texas, Hunter struggled to locate his fastball and left it out over the plate where Boston's sluggers could capitalize.
But Boston could keep pace with the hitting performance of Arizona over in the National League this week.
The Diamondbacks, who tied a major league record by belting four straight home runs against Milwaukee Aug. 11, took advantage of Brewers starter Dave Bush when Adam LaRoche, Miguel Montero, Mark Reynolds and Stephen Drew each hit the long ball in Milwaukee.
Despite entering the game boasting a 9-1 record this season, Hunter is currently on the hook for his second loss unless the Rangers can mount a considerable rally against Boston starter Josh Beckett which isn't out of the realm of possibility.
After three innings pitched, Beckett has labored a bit, allowing five hits, two runs, and one walk to go along with three strikeouts. The Rangers tallied one run in the first and another in the second before Beckett recorded his first scoreless inning in the third on a called third-strike against slugging outfielder Nelson Cruz.
Stay tuned for game updates in the comments section below.
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*Information from NESN (TV) and The Associated Press (via Yahoo.com) was used in this report.
*Photo by C.J. LaFrance/ZumaPress.
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