The Boston Red Sox didn't make it easy in today's game against the Los Angeles Angels. The Sox struck first when Tyler O'Neill and Triston Casas hit back to back jacks against Angels starter Tyler Anderson. The Angels tied it up but the Sox went ahead in the bottom of the fifth on a Pablo Reyes rbi double. Brayan Bello (2-1, 3.92 ERA) tossed a solid game, finally pitching into the sixth inning and giving the Sox a chance to win. Masataka Yoshida clubbed his first home run of the season to give the Sox some cushion and they needed it. Justin Slaten and Kenley Jansen both allowed runs but Jansen blew away Mike Trout to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-4.
Bello got the ball in the top of the first inning and Anthony Rendon singled to center to start. Luis Rengifo struck out swinging before Mike Trout also went down hacking. Taylor Ward flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox wasted no time getting to Anderson in the bottom of the first as Jarren Duran struck out swinging to start. Pablo Reyes flied out to right but Tyler O'Neill blasted his seventh home run of the season to put the Sox on top. Triston Casas then launched his fourth home run of the season for back to back jacks. Somehow Bobby Dalbec drew a walk but Masataka Yoshida popped up to Rendon to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.
Aaron Hicks led off the top of the second by striking out swinging but Brandon Drury hit a home run all the way to Newfoundland to cut the lead. Logan O'Hoppe hit a bullet to Dalbec and Jo Adell grounded out to second to end the inning with the Angels down 2-1.
Connor Wong flied out to right to start the bottom of the second before Ceddanne Rafaela grounded out to short. David Hamilton struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Angels struck back in the top of the third as Zach Neto walked to start. Rendon singled to right to move Zeto to third and Zach scored on the Rengifo force at second. Rengifo stole second and Trout walked. Hicks took strike three to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
Duran grounded out to first to start the bottom of the third before Reyes struck out swinging. O'Neill singled to left and Casas walked, but Dalbec took strike three.
Drury beat out a roller to third to start the top of the fourth but O'Hoppe banged into a double play. Adell struck out swinging to end the inning. Yoshida flied out to left to start the bottom of the fourth and Wong lined out to left. Rafaela grounded out to third to end the inning.
Neto took strike three to begin the top of the fifth before Rendon also took strike three. Rengifo grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox took the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Hamilton flied out to right to start. Duran walked and Reyes double to center to score Duran. That was it for Anderson as Adam Cimber came in to pitch. Trout made a great diving catch to rob O'Neill of a hit but Casas was intentionally walked. Wilyer Abreu pinch hit for Dalbec and.....Reyes was thrown out trying to steal third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-2.
Trout grounded out to short to start the top of the sixth but Ward singled to center. A wild pitch moved Ward to second and Hicks hit one off Bello to put runners at the corners. That was it for Bello who did well, throwing 5 1/3 innings allowing just two runs. Justin Slaten threw just one pitch but it was enough for Drury to hit into a double play to end the inning.
Jose Suarez came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Abreu walked to start. Yoshida then belted his first home run of the season to increase the lead. Wong beat out a roller to short but Rafaela popped up to Rengifo. Hamilton struck out swinging and Wong got picked off to end the inning with the Sox head 5-2.
O'Hoppe singled to left to start the top of the seventh then moved to second on the grounder to third by Adell. Neto hit one up the elevator shaft but Rendon was plunked. Rengifo grounded out to first to end the inning. Duran walked to start the bottom of the seventh but Reyes popped up to second. O'Neill walked but Casas struck out swinging. Abreu struck out swinging to end the inning.
Slaten returned for the top of the eighth and naturally Trout tripled into the centerfield triangle to start. Trout scored on a grounder to short by Ward but Hicks struck out swinging. Drury grounded out to short to end the inning with the Angels down 5-3.
Jose Cisnero came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Yoshida walked to start. Wong singled to right but Rafaela flied out to center. Hamilton struck out swinging and Duran went down hacking to end the inning.
Kenley Jansen came in to close out the top of the ninth and he hit O'Hoppe to start. Mickey Moniak pinch hit for Adell and dumped a base hit in front of O'Neill. Neto walked to load the bases and Rendon hit a rocket to Duran. O'Hoppe scored and Hamilton failed to cover second, causing both runners to move up as well. Rengifo struck out swinging and Trout went down hacking to end the game. The Sox had held on to win 5-4.
Hero of the Night is Masataka Yoshida. His two run home run was the difference in the game.
The Good:
Tyler O'Neill was 2 for 3 with a walk and a home run.
Triston Casas was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and a home run.
Wilyer Abreu walked and scored a run in two plate appearances.
Connor Wong was 2 for 4.
Brayan Bello got the win by tossing 5 1/3 innings of 2 run ball. He allowed 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 8.
The Bad:
Ceddanne Rafaela was 0 for 4.
David Hamilton was 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Jarren Duran was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked twice and scored a run.
Pablo Reyes was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run.
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 1 with a strikeout but drew a walk.
Justin Slaten allowed a run in 2 2/3 innings.
Kenley Jansen allowed a run in the ninth but earned his fourth save of the season.
Final Thoughts:
That was too close for comfort but a win is a win. After dropping the first four games at Fenway Park, everyone was mad but back to back wins is better than the alternative. Bello pitched during the day and didn't stink for once and the bullpen bent, but didn't break. Jansen walking the bases loaded and holding the Angels to just the one run was good enough to hold on. The Sox are still making defensive miscues but they got some timely hitting here. The unfortunate injuries to Trevor Story and Nick Pivetta is testing the depth of this team and we're not even out of April yet. Jansen continues to look shaky but things worked out THIS time. O'Neill continues to mash the ball and they're gonna build a statue of him by August if he keeps this pace up. All in all it was a series win and they continue to be perfectly mediocre. The Sox remain home and welcome the Cleveland Guardians in tomorrow morning for the special Patriots Day game. Kutter Crawford (0-0, 0.57 ERA) goes against Xzavion Curry of Cleveland. The game begins at 11:00 AM at Fenway Park.
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