dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday

BOSTON -- Offense hasnt been a problem for the Red Sox through 81 games, but Bostons struggles on the mound are threatening to undo all the good the team is doing at the plate.At the midway point, the Red Sox (44-37) have scored a league-leading 451 runs, a total they added to handsomely Sunday in a 10-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels.However, their mediocre pitching -- a 4.49 team ERA that ranks 11th in the AL -- might prove troublesome entering their three-game series with the Texas Rangers that starts Monday.While this is a strong offensive team, we still have areas of improvement, Red Sox manager John Farrell said. The key (to the second half of our season) without a doubt will be to stabilize our pitching, particularly in the rotation.The Rangers (52-31) own the top record in the AL, although they are in the midst of a little funk after dropping two of three games -- including a 5-4 defeat Sunday -- to the major-league-worst Minnesota Twins.Overall, the Rangers have lost four of their past five.We hit some balls hard today, Texas manager Jeff Banister said after his teams eight-hit attack Sunday. We hit them right at some people, and we hit some line drives into the outfield. Couple feet either way, and its a different ballgame.As a unit, the Rangers offense has held its own, scoring 407 runs, a total that is tied for seventh in the majors.On Monday, Texas will have to contend with one of Bostons most consistent arms, right-hander Rick Porcello (9-2, 3.78 ERA).Porcello has pitched well at home this season, going 6-0 with a 3.48 ERA in seven starts at Fenway Park this year.His numbers against Texas havent been as encouraging, though. In eight career starts against the Rangers, Porcello is 4-4 with a 5.86 ERA.Shin-Soo Choo, who hit a solo home run and drove in three runs total Sunday, has hit Porcello well historically, batting .286 (10-for-35) with four RBI against him.Adrian Beltre is 8-for-21 with a solo home run off Porcello.Last time out, Porcello allowed a run on five hits and three walks while striking out eight in a six-inning, 8-2 victory at Tampa Bay on Tuesday.Nick Martinez (1-1, 5.00 ERA) has the task of containing the Red Soxs high-powered offense in Mondays opener.The right-hander will be making his fourth start for the Rangers after giving up two runs on three hits and five walks with two strikeouts in a five-inning no-decision Wednesday at the New York Yankees.Martinez is 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA in two career starts against Boston, including a June 24 start in which he allowed four runs on six hits over six innings in another no-decision.Mookie Betts is 3-for-7 against him, while Jackie Bradley Jr. is 1-for-3 with a two-run homer. Hanley Ramirez has also teed off on Martinez, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI.Texas took two of three games against Boston when the teams met for a weekend series in Arlington on June 24-26. The Rangers won five of seven meetings with the Red Sox last season. Wholesale Nike Shoes Online . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. Cheap Air Max Black Friday 2019 . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football. http://www.shoesnikewholesale.com/ . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Deals Nike Shoes . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. Nike Shoes Outlet 2019 . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. CHICAGO -- Brian Hoyer led the Chicago Bears to their first win and maybe gave coach John Fox something to think about in the process.Hoyer threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns filling in for Jay Cutler, and the Chicago Bears earned their first win of the season with a 17-14 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.The Bears (1-3) got a win after starting 0-3 for the second time in as many seasons under Fox. They also stopped a six-game home losing streak as well as a six-game slide against Detroit (1-3), though things got tight near the end.Chicago was leading 17-6 when Andre Roberts returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown. Golden Tate then caught a 2-point conversion pass from Matthew Stafford to cut it to 17-14 with 1:52 left, but the Bears recovered the onside kick.Hoyer was on target in his second straight start with Cutler nursing a sprained right thumb. He completed 28 of 36 passes against a defense missing the injured Ezekiel Ansah and DeAndre Levy.Fox has been noncommittal when asked if Cutler will start when he is ready to return, and he wasnt about to tip his hand after this one. Chicago visits Indianapolis next week.Id like to enjoy this for at least a few hours, Fox said.Hoyer shrugged off a similar question, saying, Its my role to do whatevers asked of me. Today, Im going to enjoy the victory. Whatever they say to me tomorrow, then thats what Ill prepare to do. I think thats being a professional about it.Eddie Royal caught seven passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. Rookie Jordan Howard ran for a career-high 111 yards for Chicago.Zach Miller caught a touchdown, and the Bears gained 408 yards in just their second home win in 10 games under Fox.The Lions dropped their third straight, with Stafford struggling to find open receivers and a short-handed run game once again unable to get going.Stafford was 23 of 36 for 213 yards and was intercepted twice deep in Bears territory. He got picked off by Jacoby Glenn on a miscommunication with Tate near the end of the first half.And the Lions had the ball on the Chicago 23 when Deiondre Hall picked off a pass intended for Anquan Boldin with about four minutes remaining in the game.Marvin Jones Jr. had 74 yards receiving after setting a career high with 205 yards against Green Bay the previous week.ddddddddddddWe were just not sharp at all, coach Jim Caldwell said. There was no rhythm to it. Thats my fault.TO RECAP: The Lions settled for a 21-yard field goal by Matt Prater on the opening drive of the second half after two runs at the Chicago 1 got stopped.Hoyer hit Royal deep down the middle for a 64-yard gain on the next drive, setting up a 6-yard touchdown catch by Miller that increased Chicagos lead to 14-6 in the third quarter.But Chicagos Kevin White was slow to get off the ground after being tackled by Glover Quin following a short catch and eventually walked to the locker room with an ankle injury. Fox said he had no details on the severity of the injury.QUOTABLE: Tate on the interception late in the first half with the Lions on the Chicago 22: Just a silly mistake on my part. Ill own up to that. Just missed a signal. That cost us three points. Its tough. Its tough.Bears right guard Kyle Long on winning: We were 100 percent invested into this game. I dont even know who we play next.MISSING PLAYERS: Ansah sprained his ankle two weeks ago in Detroits loss to Tennessee and didnt return to the game. Levy has a quadriceps injury. He missed much of last season with a hip injury.Besides Cutler, Chicago played its second game without LBs Danny Trevathan (sprain thumb) and Lamarr Houston (season-ending left ACL tear). RB Jeremy Langford (ankle) was inactive after getting hurt last week at Dallas.OLD FRIEND: Joique Bell had a quiet debut for Chicago, running for 6 yards on three attempts. Bell was released by the Lions in February and worked out for them last week before signing with Chicago on Tuesday.INJURIES : Lions RB Dwayne Washington limped off in the first with a left ankle injury after he was tackled by John Timu on a second-quarter run. ... TE Eric Ebron aggravated his ankle injury and hurt his knee blocking on a run in the first quarter, but returned.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '