Mike Napoli homered and Scott Feldman was strong in a spot start as the Texas Rangers used a pair of big innings to easily dispatch Boston, 9-1, in the opener of a three-game series Monday night.
Ian Kinsler had three hits and scored twice and Josh Hamilton drove in a pair of runs for the Rangers, who put four runs on the board in the third inning and put it away with a five-run sixth, highlighted by Napoli‘s blast.
Feldman (4-6), who was called upon when Roy Oswalt was scratched with lower back pain, mowed down the Red Sox. The veteran swingman tossed a season-high seven innings and yielded one run on seven hits while striking out six and not walking a batter.
Texas got RBI hits from Elvis Andrus, Hamilton and Michael Young during the four-run third. Each of the first four batters reached in the frame against Red Sox left-hander Felix Doubront.
Doubront (10-5) got through the fourth and fifth innings unscathed but fell apart in the sixth, when he walked Nelson Cruz to lead off the frame. Napoli followed and blasted a 3-2 fastball deep down the left field line, depositing his 15th home run inside the pole.
Doubront was lifted after the blast and charged with six runs on eight hits in five-plus innings.
Franklin Morales was the first out of the bullpen and surrendered three more runs (two earned) on RBIs from Craig Gentry, Kinsler and Hamilton.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia provided Boston’s lone run with a solo homer.
NOTES: Hamilton reclaimed the major-league lead with 80 RBIs … Napoli has crushed Boston over the last few seasons, batting .337 (32-for-95) with 14 home runs and 33 RBIs in his last 27 games against the Red Sox … Boston fell to 4-12 at Texas over the last three seasons.
Gonzalez earns AL honor
It won’t offer much consolation, not after a three-game sweep by the Blue Jays, but the Red Sox finally have started getting the production they expect from Adrian Gonzalez.
On Monday, Gonzalez was recognized as American League Player of the Week.
In seven games against the White Sox and Blue Jays, Gonzalez went 12-for-28 (.429) with three homers and 12 RBIs.
It marks the sixth time in his career, and the first time since last Aug. 22-28, that he has won Player of the Week honors.
Atchison on mend
Atchison, out with a sore right forearm, should be ready to come off the disabled list as soon as he is eligible at the end of the month. He threw from 120 feet Saturday and everything felt good. He was scheduled to throw from flat ground on Monday and face his biggest test before Wednesday’s scheduled bullpen session.
If all goes well, Atchison will begin a rehab stint, probably with Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday.
Reliever Andrew Bailey (thumb) continues to make progress.
“He threw real well today in the bullpen, off the mound, 100 percent,” Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said on Sunday.
Bailey will throw batting practice Wednesday in Texas.
The Boston Herald contributed to this report.
