The gap between the Los Angels Angels and Boston Red Sox was obvious Saturday night.
Garrett Richards tossed a complete-game shutout and Kole Calhoun hit two home runs as the Angels defeated the Red Sox 3-0 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Boston has yet to score a run in the second half, as Los Angeles also blanked the Sox in a 1-0, walk-off win in Friday’s series opener.
L.A., of course, sits atop the American League West, while Boston sits in the basement of the AL East. That reality was easy to comprehend Saturday. The Angels looked like the far better team.
The Red Sox missed an opportunity to gain ground in the AL East, too, as the New York Yankees lost to the Seattle Mariners. Boston’s deficit in the division remains at 7 1/2 games.
GAME IN A WORD
Silenced.
Richards completely shut down the Red Sox’s offense. He allowed just two hits and struck out six over nine shutout frames. Boston produced three baserunners.
Richards retired the final 15 batters he faced.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Calhoun ripped his second home run of the game.
Technically, it was over in the second inning. Pablo Sandoval committed an error to load the bases and Rick Porcello uncorked a wild pitch that allowed the Angels to grab a 1-0 lead. But Calhoun’s pair of homers — nearly identical blasts in the third and fifth innings — gave the Halos a three-run edge that looked like a 10-run lead the way the Red Sox have been swinging the bats this series.
ON THE BUMP
— Porcello can’t keep the ball in the yard.
Porcello has surrendered 18 home runs this season in 18 starts after giving up two to Calhoun. He allowed exactly 18 homers in four of his six seasons before this year. The right-hander surrendered a career-high 23 as a rookie in 2009, and he’s on pace to blow past that mark in his first season in Boston.
Porcello was charged with three runs (two earned) on four hits over five innings. He struck out five, walked three and threw 102 pitches (57 strikes). It was a grind, as Porcello and catcher Ryan Hanigan struggled to get on the same page several times throughout the contest.
— Justin Masterson was sharp in relief.
Masterson tossed three scoreless innings after replacing Porcello. He struck out four.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Sandoval produced Boston’s only two hits against Richards. The Panda singled on a comebacker that struck Richards in the second inning and hit a ground-rule double in the fifth inning.
TWEET OF THE GAME
There it is.
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UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Angels will duel in prime time Sunday night. A pair of left-handers, Eduardo Rodriguez and Hector Santiago, will square off in a nationally televised game scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET.
Boston and Los Angeles also play Monday night at 10:05 p.m. ET.
Thumbnail photo via Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports Images
