ARLINGTON -- For interim manager Chad Tracy, Jacob deGrom represents the type of pitching Boston could encounter in the postseason.
The Red Sox knew runs would be hard to come by against deGrom, but Nick Sogard provided an opening that Boston couldn’t build on it as it fell, 4-2, to the Rangers on Tuesday night at Globe Life Field.
Sogard launched a two-run homer – his fifth of the season – in the third inning, pulling the Red Sox within two after an early four-run hole.
deGrom retired the first seven batters he faced before Caleb Durbin broke through with a one-out single to center. Sogard followed by going down to get a 91.3 mph slider below the zone, sending it a Statcast-projected 357 feet to right. The ball left his bat at 102 mph and cleared the right-field wall by a couple of feet.
The Red Sox tried to take advantage of their slim opportunities again in the fifth. Jarren Duran was hit by a pitch, Durbin reached on catcher’s interference and Mickey Gasper drew a two-out walk to load the bases. This time, deGrom worked out of trouble by retiring Adley Rutschman to end the inning.
Red Sox starter Patrick Sandoval also began his outing strong, striking out the first four batters he faced before things unraveled for the left-hander. Sandoval lasted 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks before Boston turned to its bullpen.