The Boston Red Sox crashed down to earth big time as they dropped their fourth game in a row and third in a row to the Los Angeles Angels. James Paxton (1-1, 5.14 ERA) got shelled for 5 runs in just 3 innings to put the Sox in a hole they couldn't climb out of. The Sox got a run back off Ty Anderson on a Kike Hernandez doubled in the top of the fourth, but Mike Trout hit a two run bomb off Nick Pivetta in the bottom of the frame to ice it. The Sox bats scratched out two runs late in the game but it wasn't enough as the Angels completed the sweep 7-3 at Angel Stadium.
Anderson got the ball in the top of the first inning and Rob Refsnyder lined out to short to start. Justin Turner walked but Masataka Yoshida grounded into a double play to end the inning. Paxton got the ball in the bottom of the first and Taylor Ward flied out to right. Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani both struck out swinging to end the inning.
Rafael Devers singled to center to open the top of the second but Kike Hernandez flied out to center. Pablo Reyes got a base hit to left but Devers was thrown out at third after Connor Wong struck out swinging to end the inning. The Angels iced the game early in the bottom of the second as old friend Hunter Renfroe walked to start. Brandon Drury doubled down the left field line and Gio Urshela hit a sac fly to center to score Renfroe to put the Angels up for good just two innings into the game. Luis Rengifo struck out swinging but Chad Wallach walked. Zach Neto hit a home run all the way to Cuba to ice the game and Ward grounded out to third to end the inning with the Angels up 4-0.
Raimel Tapia grounded out to short to start the top of the third before Duran took strike three. Refsnyder flied out to center to end the inning. The Angels struck again in the bottom of the third as Trout took strike three to start. Ohtani then hit a home run all the way to China to increase the lead. Remfroe lined out to right but Drury singled to right. Urshela walked but Rengifo took strike three to end the inning with the Angels up 5-0.
The Sox fought back in the top of the fourth although Turner flied out to center to start. Yoshida doubled to center but Devers flied out to left. Hernandez doubled to left to score Yoshida but Reyes grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox down 5-1.
That was it for Paxton who allowed 5 runs in 3 innings and Nick Pivetta came in to pitch the bottom of the fourth. Wallach struck out swinging to start but Neto singled to center. Ward flied out to center but Trout clobbered a home run all the way to the Klingon Homeworld to increase the lead. Ohtani popped up to short to end the inning with the Angels up 7-1.
Trout jacks one
The Sox blew a rally in the top of the fifth as Wong flied out to left to start. Tapia walked but Duran took strike three. Refsnyder got a base hit to left but Turner grounded out to third to end the inning. Renfroe grounded out to second to start the bottom of the fifth before Drury popped up to second. Urshela struck out swinging to end the inning.
Yoshida grounded out to second to begin the top of the sixth before Devers lined out to short. Hernandez flied out to right to end the inning. Rengifo struck out swinging to start the bottom of the sixth and Wallach flied out to right. Neto hit a ground rule double down the left field line but Ward flied out to right to end the inning.
Reyes Moronta came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Reyes popped up to first. Wong somehow belted his fifth home run of the year to cut the lead and Tapia singled to right. Duran grounded out to second to move Tapia to second and Refsnyder walked. Both runners moved over on a wild pitch and Turner walked to load the bases. Chris Devenski came in to face Yoshida and Masa grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox down 7-2.
Justin Garza came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Trout grounded out to short to start. Ohtani grounded out to short and Renfroe flied out to left to end the inning.
Jared Walsh came in for Rengifo to start the top of the eighth and Devers grounded out to first to start. Hernandez struck out swinging and Reyes popped up to first to end the inning. Kenley Jansen came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Drury grounded out to third to start. Urshela popped up to second but Walsh walked. Wallach popped up to first to end the inning.
Aaron Loup came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Wong walked to start. Tapia grounded out to short to move Wong to second and Duran grounded out to second to move Connor to third. Refsnyder got a base hit to center to score Wong but Turner lined out to center to end the game. The Angels had won it 7-3.
Angels win
Jackass Paxton
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4.
Jackass of the Night is James Paxton. He put the Sox in a early hole by allowing 5 runs in 3 innings to take the loss.
The Good:
Rob Refsnyder was 2 for 4 with a walk and an rbi.
Connor Wong was 1 for 3 with a walk, home run and 2 runs scored.
Raimel Tapia was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Justin Garza pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
The Bad:
Jarren Duran was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Nick Pivetta allowed 2 runs in 3 innings.
The Ugly:
Justin Turner was 0 for 3 but walked twice.
Masataka Yoshida was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4.
Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run.
Pablo Reyes was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
The best way to describe the Red Sox is they are treading water and making no progress. They nosedived off a cliff in 2022 and never really recovered. So far this season they've been outclassed by just about every team they've played and the Angels are no exception. Paxton didn't pitch well but the fact that Chaim Bloom banked on Trevor Story to replace Xander Bogaerts might cost him his job sooner rather than later. The offense just hasn't been there and it doesn't look like it will improve either. A whole season of meh might be in store. The loss dropped the Sox to 26-24, 9.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox continue their road trip by traveling to Arizona for a three game set with the Diamondbacks. This Friday night Chris Sale (4-2) takes on Brandon Pfaadt of the Diamondbacks at 9:40 PM Eastern time at Chase Field.
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