Texas @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 25, 2012 ) Boston 3, Texas 5

The Texas Rangers have an opportunity to crush spirits of the Boston Red Sox. Sitting a game below .500 after dropping three of four at home to the lowly Minnesota Twins, the Red Sox are 4 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot in the American League with three teams standing in their way. The Texas Rangers, who have dominated Boston in recent years, enter the series tied for the best record in the AL.

The Red Sox avoided a four-game sweep with a win Sunday but almost had their bullpen let a late lead slip away again. One of the few consistent aspects of the team since April, the relief corps has hit a rough patch that the offense has not been able overcome. The Rangers have taken four of five from Boston already this season and are 23-11 against the Red Sox since the start of 2009. Texas slugger Josh Hamilton has hit in four straight games and the offense has come around with him. Rookie Mike Olt had a tough day in Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Royals but has otherwise only helped lengthen the lineup.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSSW (Texas), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Yu Darvish (11-7, 4.38 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Aaron Cook (2-5, 5.24)

Darvish’s recent struggles are part of the reason Texas made a strong push to bring in another starting pitcher at the trade deadline. The Japanese import has been pounded for at least five runs in three of his last four outings and continues to struggle with his command. Darvish issued six walks against Los Angeles on Wednesday while getting knocked around for seven runs in five innings. The right-hander has yet to face the Red Sox but is 3-0 against the AL East, with two wins over the Toronto Blue Jays and one over the New York Yankees.

Cook has had trouble keeping the ball in the ballpark lately - a bad sign for a pitcher who relies on ground balls to get outs. The veteran sinkerball pitcher has surrendered two home runs in each of his last three starts and has not won since June 29. Cook, who has recorded only four strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings, has not made it out of the fifth inning in either of his last two turns. Hamilton is 3-for-3 with a double and a triple off Cook in his career while Adrian Beltre has knocked him around at a 6-for-13 clip with four RBIs.

WALK-OFFS

1. Hamilton is batting .373 (28-for-75) with three home runs and 22 RBIs in 20 career games at Fenway Park.

2. Boston acquired 3B Danny Valencia from the Twins on Sunday and optioned him to Class AAA Pawtucket.

3. Rangers SS Elvis Andrus left Sunday’s game with a sore right shoulder but is expected to play against the Red Sox.