Bodog Beat

The Red Sox start a three-game series in Texas today. (AP Images)

The Texas Rangers will try for a second consecutive win today as former teammates Kevin Millwood and John Smoltz face off in the opener of the Boston Red Sox’s three-game visit to Texas.

While poor pitching has often derailed Texas in the past, the Rangers’ struggling offense has been the culprit lately, scoring a total of just eight runs prior to a win on Sunday.

Boston managed just seven runs and 18 hits in the three-game series against Toronto, losing 3-1 to Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay on Sunday.

Smoltz earned his first victory with Boston on July 11, allowing one run and striking out seven in five innings of a 15-9 win over Kansas City.

In three July starts, Millwood is 0-2 with an 8.83 ERA, with his ERA rising from 2.64.

Boston (-105 favorites) has won six of its last seven games in Arlington, averaging seven runs over that span.

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