Red Sox Notes: Alex Cora ‘Pleased’ Despite Slow Offensive Start Vs. Rangers

The Boston Red Sox fell just short of the Texas Rangers, again, during Saturday night’s 4-3 loss at Globe Life Field.

Boston had its chances to capitalize offensively, and despite another quality performance from the team’s pitching staff, the bats failed to break out in Texas. Rafael Devers and Triston Casas — the Red Sox’s premier source of left-handed power — combined to deflate at the plate and went 1-for-9 with six strikeouts. Devers drew a walk to tally his first RBI of the season, but that was far from enough and while the numbers appear to be alarming just three games in, Red Sox manager Alex Cora isn’t worried.

“We didn’t cash in,” Cora admitted, as seen on NESN’s postgame coverage. “I think the bottom part of the lineup did a good job getting on base and doing all the stuff. The big boys, they didn’t cash in. But I’m pleased with the quality of the at-bats, to be honest with you. We’re not chasing that much. We’re just getting beat in the zone and we just gotta be on time with the fastball.”

The Red Sox stranded 10 runners on the base paths, meanwhile, the bullpen was spotless yet again. Relief pitchers Justin Wilson, Zack Kelly and Greg Weissert combined to throw 3 2/3 scoreless innings, which kept the bullpen perfect through three games. Boston’s relievers are yet to surrender a run, as the late innings have fared well for the Red Sox thus far.

However, the heart of the (extremely early) issue remains within the lineup. Boston has hit .208, and the starters who’ve taken the mound — Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck and Walker Buehler — have notched a 6.00 ERA. Again, the sample size is far too small, therefore, Cora remains optimistic that the early-season slides will soon fade.

“Obviously, it’s early, right?” Cora said. “At the end of the day, the big boys are the big boys. You got the table setters and they get on base for them, and right now in three days it hasn’t happened.”

Here are more notes from Saturday night’s Red Sox-Rangers game:

— Red Sox rookie Kristian Campbell crushed his first big-league home run off Rangers relief pitcher Jacob Webb in the fourth inning. The 22-year-old became the first Boston rookie with five-plus hits (now 5-for-10) through his first three games since Xander Bogaerts in 2014.

“That’s usually how I am,” Campbell said about being pumped up rounding the bases, per NESN. “Just a lot of energy, and my family was here. … Happy that they got to see that. They haven’t seen me hit a home run probably since college.”

— The Red Sox went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position, and the offense has stranded a total of 22 runners on base through the first three games of the season.

— Buehler surrendered four earned runs off seven hits with three strikeouts across 4 1/3 innings in his Red Sox debut. The right-hander also didn’t allow a walk despite running into five three-ball counts.

— Cora provided a brief update on backup outfielder Rob Refsnyder, who hasn’t made his season debut yet.

“He’s sick,” Cora revealed. “He’s in the hotel. He should be available tomorrow or Monday (when Boston opens its series against the Baltimore Orioles).”

— Catcher Carlos Narváez, who the Red Sox acquired from the New York Yankees this past offseason, made his Boston debut. The 26-year-old went 1-for-3 at the plate, logging a single to record his first base knock in a Red Sox uniform.

— Devers continued his early-season struggles at the plate. Boston’s designated hitter went 0-for-4 in Texas with three strikeouts, which makes the three-time All-Star now 0-for-12 with 10 strikeouts to begin the 2025 campaign. Devers has now gone six consecutive games, dating back to last season, with three-plus strikeouts.

— The Red Sox, now 1-2 on the season, will wrap up their four-game season-opening series against the Rangers on Sunday afternoon. First pitch from Globe Life Field is scheduled for 2:35 p.m. ET, and you can catch the game, plus a full hour of pregame coverage, live on NESN.