Statistically, no one got a save in the Rangers’ 9-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox to open the 2011 season and the defense of the American League Championship in Arlington.
Give David Murphy the credit. After three hours of watching the game from the dugout, Murphy came to the plate in the eighth inning and smoked a two-RBI double to help the Rangers re-establish their lead at 7-5 following a David Ortiz homer that tied the game at 5.
Murphy’s two-bagger was the first of three such hits that would solidify the win, the Rangers’ third consecutive on Opening Day. Murphy scored on a double into the corner by Elvis Andrus, who batted second behind Ian Kinsler for the first time in his career. Andrus crossed the plate on Josh Hamilton’s double, his only hit of the day, to put the ninth run on the board.
The Rangers succeeded in coming back after being down 2-0 and 4-2 as well as even at 5. The leadoff spot agrees with Kinsler, who hit the second pitch of the game for a homerun off Boston starter Jon Lester and cut a 2-0 deficit to 2-1. Nelson Cruz went deep to begin the third inning to square it at 2.
Rangers' starter C.J. Wilson struggled through the top of the third, allowing a double, two singles and a walk and two earned runs in a laborious frame. He would give up only one hit after that. In the bottom of the fourth, singles by third baseman Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz set up a 3-run shot for Mike Napoli, a former divisional foe, and a 5-4 score in favor of the Rangers.
Wilson's final line came to 5 2/3 innings pitched, six hits and six strikeouts. Lester did not strikeout anyone in 5 1/3 innings. Reigning Rookie of the Year Neftali Feliz struck out former battery mate Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jacoby Ellsbury to end the game.
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