BOSTON -- The night started with great promise for the Red Sox. It ended with an embarrassingly lopsided defeat.
The Red Sox took a quick 2-0 lead after just two hitters, then watched the Texas Rangers score 16 straight runs en route to a thorough clubbing of the Sox, 18-3.
Jon Lester lasted just two-plus innings -- tied for the shortest outing of his career -- and was charged with seven runs. After Scott Atchison kept it close with four innings of one-run relief, the Boston bullpen was torched for eight more runs in the top of the eighth, including six off Mark Melancon.
Melancon faced the first six hitters in the inning and allowed three homers -- including a tape-measure shot to Josh Hamilton, who belted a three-run shot one-third of the way up into the right field bleachers.
Melancon has allowed four homers in his first two Fenway appearances as a member of the Sox staff.
In all, Texas hit six homers on the night, including two by noted Red Sox nemesis Mike Napoli.
The crowd mocked the Sox with chants of "Let's Go Bruins" heard among the fans in the final few innings.
Texas starter Colby Lewis went seven innings and after falling behind 2-0 in the first, allowed just four hits following the first.
Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run homer in the first and Adrian Gonzalez added a solo shot off Koji Uehara in the eighth to account for the three Red Sox runs.