If the Red Sox had played more games as well as they did on Monday night, management might not have needed to voice its support for manager Bobby Valentine.

Seven strong innings by sinkerballer Aaron Cook. Eight doubles. Two double plays and a pickoff.

Solid pitching, hitting and defense gave Boston a 9-2 win over the powerful Texas Rangers a few hours after owner John Henry said it is “simply wrong” to blame Valentine for the troubles of a team that has never been above third place in the AL East and GM Ben Cherington said the team is not looking to replace the manager.

“I regret that they had to do it,” Valentine said of the statements. “If our record was better they wouldn’t have had to do it. (I) totally appreciate it, though, if they thought it was necessary.”

The Red Sox have hovered around .500 for much of the season and improved to 55-55 with their latest win.

But several players said the votes of confidence in Valentine don’t affect their performances.

“Our job is to go out and play,” said Adrian Gonzalez, who went 3-for-5 with three RBIs. “He hasn’t swung the bat all year. He hasn’t pitched. It’s us that are playing out there so the .500 record we’re at right now, it’s on us. It’s not on Bobby. Everybody wants to make a big deal out of that, but it’s never been on Bobby. It’s always been on us.”

The Red Sox matched a season high with eight doubles and lead the majors with 248. The New York Mets have the second most, 213.

Dustin Pedroia had three doubles, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford two each and Gonzalez one. Those first four batters in the lineup were a combined 11 for 18 with six runs and eight RBIs. Ellsbury and Crawford returned recently from long-term injuries.

“They’re electric and tonight they played a terrific game, using the whole field, hitting all pitches, running the bases,” Valentine said of the two speedsters at the top of the order. “It’s a delight to see.”

Sinker shines

Cook (3-5) regained control of his sinker after going 0-4 in his previous five starts. Of his 21 outs, 15 came on groundballs. He allowed six hits, walked two and struck out one.

Yu Darvish (11-8) also has struggled and fell to 1-4 in his last six starts. On Monday, in the rookie’s first start against the Red Sox, he threw 123 pitches and allowed 11 hits, both career highs.

NOTES: The first five batters in Boston’s lineup went 12 for 22 with eight doubles, six runs and nine RBIs. … Ryan Dempster (5-5) makes his second start for Texas tonight since being acquired the previous Tuesday from the Chicago Cubs… Gonzalez reached base at least twice for the eighth time in 10 games.