Mike Trout will get you sooner or later.
The Boston Red Sox learned this Friday night when they contained Trout in his first three at-bats before the best player in Major League Baseball crushed a walk-off home run off Koji Uehara to lift the Los Angeles Angels to a 1-0 win at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Boston’s loss spoiled an excellent performance by starter Wade Miley, who carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning.
The Red Sox, who also lost ground in the American League East by virtue of the New York Yankees’ win over the Seattle Mariners, have lost three of their last four games dating back to before the All-Star break. They’re 7 1/2 games back in the division with 72 games remaining on their 2015 schedule.
Let’s run down some notes from Friday.
— Miley’s performance might have been the best of his career. It went down in the books with a game score of 79, which surpassed his previous best of 78 (accomplished three times by the left-hander).
“Obviously, it crosses your mind,” Miley told reporters of carrying a no-hitter into the seventh. “But I’m just trying to keep the game where it’s at. I want to win the ballgame. That’s the main goal. It is what it is.”
— The Red Sox’s offense has been among the best in the American League since the beginning of June. Boston’s bats were stymied by Angels starter C.J. Wilson, though.
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— Red Sox manager John Farrell opted to use Uehara in the ninth inning with the game tied 0-0 because the top of the Angels’ order was due up.
Johnny Giavotella (0-for-1, one strikeout), Kole Calhoun (0-for-4, three strikeouts) and Trout (0-for-5, three strikeouts) had no success against the Red Sox closer in the past.
“We felt like that was going to be the game and we went to the guy who’s been very, very good for us,” Farrell said.
Uehara admitted to reporters he was a little surprised he was used in a non-save situation. He recorded two quick outs in the ninth before mislocating an 0-1 fastball to Trout.
“I was trying to go a little bit more outside,” Uehara told reporters through a translator. “I knew I had a good record against him, but he had a good at-bat against me today.”
Uehara, who entered the game with 10 consecutive scoreless appearances, owns a 5.91 ERA (seven earned runs over 10 2/3 innings) in non-save situations this season. He has a 1.17 ERA (three earned runs over 23 innings) in save situations.
The loss apparently didn’t sit well with Uehara, who’s typically an upbeat guy.
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— Trout’s pretty good, if you haven’t noticed. But you probably have. Miley sure has.
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— Xander Bogaerts continues to impress both offensively and defensively. He had two hits and made a highlight-reel play in the seventh inning to save a run.
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— Farrell announced before the game that Brian Johnson will make his major league debut Tuesday against the Houston Astros. Johnson, who received his first big league call-up last weekend after Clay Buchholz landed on the 15-day disabled list, hasn’t pitched since July 6 with Triple-A Pawtucket.
— Rick Porcello is scheduled to make his first start of the second half Saturday. According to Farrell, Porcello will continue to work with catcher Ryan Hanigan. The right-hander, who owns a 5.90 ERA overall, has a 3.60 ERA in four starts this season with Hanigan behind the plate.
— Dustin Pedroia, who was activated from the DL before Friday’s game, went 0-for-4 in his return to the lineup. It’s unclear how heavy his workload will be in the early stages of his return.
“I think in Pedey’s mind, coming back it was the thought he’d go every day,” Farrell told reporters before the game. “That’s the way he’s wired, as we know. But we also have to be cognizant if there’s a day of rest to give him a day of recovery when the action has picked back up, so we’ll see it as we go.”
Pedroia is coming off a hamstring injury for the first time in his career and the Red Sox don’t have a scheduled off-day until Aug. 3. The second baseman might need to ease off the gas a bit at first.
Thumbnail photo via Richard Mackson/USA TODAY Sports Images
