Saturday night was a missed opportunity for the Boston Red Sox.
The Sox got off to a great start offensively with two first-inning runs, but they failed to score again while leaving 11 runners on base in a 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.
Here’s how it all went down.
GAME IN A WORD
Frustrating.
Boston had its fair amount of chances to score, especially early on, but it only mustered two runs.
IT WAS OVER WHEN …
Albert Pujols hit a historic home run off Drew Pomeranz in the bottom of the third inning (more on this play later).
ON THE BUMP
— Pomeranz looked a bit shaky in the first inning. The left-hander gave up back-to-back singles to Mike Trout and Pujols, and they moved up to second and third on a wild pitch. Trout later scored on a Jefry Marte RBI groundout.
Pomeranz ran into more trouble in the bottom of the third when Pujols made some history with a two-run home run.
The Angels then added on another run in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a Johnny Giavotella RBI single.
Pomeranz was lifted in the sixth inning in favor of Joe Kelly after walking Andrelton Simmons, who later scored, on four pitches. Pomeranz allowed five earned runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
— Kelly didn’t fare much better at first, as he allowed an RBI double to Jett Bandy on his second pitch. But Kelly settled down and allowed only the one inherited run in 2 1/3 innings of work.
— Tommy Layne came on with two outs in the eighth and struck out Kole Calhoun to end the frame.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Hector Santiago had been having a great July, but the Angels starting pitcher coughed up a leadoff home run to Mookie Betts on an 89-mph sinker. It was Betts’ 21st homer of the year, six of which have been leadoff blasts.
But the Red Sox weren’t done in the first inning. Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts both walked, and Hanley Ramirez later drove in Pedroia with an RBI single to left field.
Boston also loaded the bases later in the inning, but Bryce Brentz struck out looking on a sinker on the inner half of the plate.
— The Red Sox came close to tacking on a few more runs in the top of the third when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Brentz once again struck out looking to end the threat.
— Those missed opportunities came back to haunt the Red Sox, as they left a total of 11 runners on base.
— Betts, Pedroia, Bogaerts and Ramirez all tallied one hit each, while catcher Sandy Leon led the way with two.
TWEET OF THE DAY
This Mookie Betts guy is pretty good, eh?
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Angels will close out their four-game series Sunday at 3:35 p.m. ET at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Steven Wright will be on the mound for Boston opposite left-hander Tyler Skaggs.
Thumbnail photo via Richard Mackson/USA TODAY Sports Images
