BOSTON — Needless to say, Sunday was a much better day for the Red Sox than Saturday was.
The Los Angeles Angels demolished Boston 21-2 in the middle game of their series, but the Red Sox’s offense showed them who was boss in the finale. Everyone in the Red Sox’s lineup recorded at least one hit, while starter Sean O’Sullivan gave a solid performance in Boston’s 10-5 win.
No matter how bad Saturday’s loss was, the Red Sox still started their homestand off with a series win.
Here’s how it all went down.
GAME IN A WORD
Battle.
Four-and-a-half innings passed before a single run crossed the plate in this game, and the Red Sox had two outs before putting up a seven-spot in the bottom of the frame. The Angels roared back to make it 7-5 after the top of the seventh, but Boston added three more in the same inning to pull away.
IT WAS OVER WHEN …
The Red Sox put up three insurance runs in the seventh inning.
Things got a little scary after reliever Junichi Tazawa let the Angels come within two runs of tying it at 7-5, but Boston came right back in the bottom of the inning and held on to that lead.
ON THE BUMP
— No one really knew what to expect from O’Sullivan, who was successful in Pawtucket, but he certainly delivered Sunday. The right-hander did have a lot of help from the guys behind him — the defense turned two clutch double plays — but O’Sullivan also had a pretty good handle on L.A., pitching two 1-2-3 innings.
O’Sullivan’s day ended after he allowed singles to Andrelton Simmons and Yunel Escobar to begin the sixth. He finished his day with two runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts over five innings.
— Matt Barnes had some trouble in the sixth, coming in and allowing an RBI double to Kole Calhoun, a Mike Trout groundout that brought in a run and another RBI double to Albert Pujols. The damage stopped there, though, and Barnes ended up with one run on two hits over one inning.
— Junichi Tazawa had a rough time in the seventh, giving up three hits — including two doubles — to allow the Angels to get back in the game at 7-5.
— Koji Uehara enjoyed a 1-2-3 eighth inning to keep Boston’s 10-5 lead intact.
— Tommy Layne walked catcher Jett Bandy with one out in the ninth, let Simmons reach on a forceout and gave up a single to Escobar but got out of the inning without giving up a run.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— David Ortiz put the Red Sox on the board in the fifth when he smacked a ground-rule double to the center field triangle on the first pitch Angels starter Matt Shoemaker threw to him. Big Papi went 1-for-3 with a run, two walks and an RBI.
— Hanley Ramirez continued his hot streak, going 3-for-5 with a run, two RBIs and two doubles.
— Jackie Bradley Jr. tacked on another run in the Red Sox’s seven-run fifth inning with a single that scored Ramirez. The center fielder went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs.
— Mookie Betts had a tough time Sunday, going 1-for-5. Dustin Pedroia followed him at 2-for-5 with a run and two RBIs, while Xander Bogaerts had a nice day in the No. 3 hole, going 1-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run.
— Marco Hernandez had himself a day, as he went 2-for-3 and had a part in the fifth-inning hit parade. The third baseman hit a single that Angels left fielder Jefry Marte couldn’t field cleanly, allowing a run to score.
— Brock Holt continued producing since returning from the disabled list Friday, going 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs.
— Sandy Leon played the hero again, knocking in two runs in the fifth with a double. Leon went 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs and still is Boston’s best-hitting catcher at .457.
TWEET OF THE DAY
Jackie Bradley Jr.’s arm is like no other current outfielder’s. Literally.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox continue their homestand Monday with the first of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers. Rick Porcello (9-2, 3.78 ERA) will start for Boston in the 1:35 p.m. ET contest against Rangers righty Nick Martinez (1-1, 5.00 ERA).
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
