Rangers Falter in Opening Day Loss to Red Sox

Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

March 27, 2025

Red Sox 5, Rangers 2

ARLINGTON, Texas. (Mar 27) — It was not the outcome the Texas Rangers hoped for on Opening Day, as they fell to the Boston Red Sox, 5–2, on Thursday afternoon. Wilyer Abreu provided most of the offense for the Red Sox with a two-homer day. The Rangers, meanwhile, look to even this four-game series against the Red Sox on Friday evening with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm Central at Globe Life Field. It will be a duel of righties as Tanner Houck will get the ball for the Red Sox while Jack Leiter will take the mound for the Rangers.

Back and Forth

The Rangers scored first in the bottom of the second off Red Sox starter Garrett Crochet. Jake Burger got the inning started by drawing a free pass. Josh Jung moved him over to second with a single to right, bringing Pillar to the plate. Burger crossed the plate thanks to a single to center by Pillar.

The Red Sox tied it in the top of the third with Nathan Eovaldi on the mound for the Rangers. Abreu led off with a single to right. On deck was Connor Wong, who advanced Abreu to third on a single to center. Up next was Ceddanne Rafaela. He grounded into a 6–4 force play, allowing Abreu to score.

The Rangers answered back in the bottom of the fourth. After back-to-back groundouts by Burger and Jung, Pillar hit his second single of the afternoon, a line drive to center. He scored moments later on a double to center by Kyle Higashioka.

The Red Sox tied it again in the top of the fifth, courtesy of a solo homer to right by Abreu, his first of the season.

This wasn’t the end of Abreu’s day, however. He gave the Red Sox a 5–2 lead in the top of the ninth off Rangers reliever Luke Jackson. After Triston Casas was struck out to lead off, Trevor Story drew a walk and stole second. On deck was Kristian Campbell, who advanced Story to third with a single to left, bringing up Abreu. He lined a three-run homer to right for his second long ball of the afternoon.

What Went Right for the Red Sox

Abreu was the man of the hour for the Red Sox on Thursday. The 25-year-old outfielder went 3-for-3 with a walk, two homers, three runs scored and four RBI. There was also the force play that Rafaela grounded into that allowed Abreu to score in the third.

What Went Wrong for the Red Sox

The Red Sox hit an early roadblock when Pillar hit his RBI single that scored Burger in the second. The Rangers added their second run in the fourth on Higashioka’s RBI double.

Eovaldi Goes Six

Despite pitching six good innings, Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi walked to the showers with a no-decision on Thursday. In the six frames he pitched, Eovaldi gave up two runs, both earned, on three hits. He didn’t walk anyone and he struck out nine. Eovaldi’s nine strikeouts matched the most by a Rangers pitcher on Opening Day. He ties Lance Lynn, who did it against the Colorado Rockies on Opening Day of the pandemic-shortened season of 2020.

After recording the first out of the ninth, Jackson was saddled with the loss after he gave up Abreu’s three-run blast. He surrendered three runs, all earned, on two hits. Jackson walked one and struck out one. He now owns a record of 0–1 with an ERA of 81.00.

Red Sox Pitching Notes

Like Eovaldi, Red Sox starter Garrett Crochet also took a no-decision for his effort on Opening Day. He tossed five innings and gave up two runs, both earned, on five hits. He walked two and struck out four.

Former Ranger Aroldis Chapman earned the win for the Red Sox after coming on in the eighth. He allowed one hit and struck out one. After pitching a spotless ninth, righty Justin Slaten earned his first save of the season.

Bochy’s Postgame Comments

After the game, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy went over how this loss sat with him, despite Eovaldi’s performance. “Nate did a great job”, Bochy said. “The bullpen did a nice job up until that ninth inning. The walk and seeing-eye hit put us in a jam, but overall the pitching did a nice job. We saw some good baseball out there, and their guy Crochet, he’s their number one starter for a reason. He held our bats in check for the most part, and we had to tip our hats to him.”