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Cruise controlSo, when we note that last night's 18 runs was best ever at the 100-year-old park or that Colby Lewis' seven-inning gem should not be overlooked, that means something.
The offense was great, Lewis was maybe greater and the Rangers ran off with an 18-3 beatdown of the Red Sox, who can't seem to find their bearings. Theo Epstein might have been lucky to get dumped in the off-season.
Lewis first. He has been and was remarkable. A horse. There's a lot to be said for throwing strikes early in a count to get ahead. He certainly did that. He also worked efficiently and quickly. In five of his seven innings, he got the first two batters out. In six of the seven, he got, at least, the first batter out.
Basically, all night, Lewis was working free and easy with one or two outs in his pocket. Much easier to pitch like that.
Lewis' control has been pinpoint this season, so far. He's sporting a 22:1 strikeout/walk ratio. Remarkable because in his two previous seasons, he's notched 3:1 strikeout/walk ratios.
The control shows in the home run column too. Hearing the call from Dave Barnett, many of the Rangers' six home runs seemed like mild shocks. At least by the eyeball test, outside of Mike Napoli's first and Josh Hamilton's bomb, many of the homers were not extremely well hit or at least didn't sound well hit.
The ball was flying out at Fenway and Lewis managed to allow just the first-inning dong from Dustin Pedroia. He's allowed two homers in three starts and 19 innings. On a night when no lead was safe, in theory, Lewis kept his control. His slider was murder. It looked like a strike every time even if it wasn't.
Bottomline: Josh Hamilton's not the only Ranger in a contract year. Fear the beard.
****
As for the offense, it was bombastic, patient and, well, lucky.
Patient in that they worked over the Sox's best starter (Jon Lester ... a typical lefty pest to the Rangers) and made him throw strikes. He walked four batters including No. 8 hitter Yorvit Torrealba twice. The Rangers worked eight walks in total.
Bombastic, meaning six home runs, three doubles and 21 total hits. It wasn't one guy doing the damage. It wasn't just one Red Sox pitcher giving up all the goods. Everyone was hitting and every Boston pitcher was tossed grapefruits up there. To say it wasn't Boston's night was an understatement.
And lucky ... well, Napoli's second homer wrapping around Pesky Pole, Elvis Andrus with the RBI dribbler to the pitcher, Mike Young's opposite field line drive. I mean, it happens. Party.
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