The Boston Red Sox’s second half started on a crushing note.
Mike Trout launched a walk-off home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Red Sox 1-0 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
The loss was a big one, too. Not only does it leave a bad taste in the Red Sox’s mouths to open the second half. It also dropped them a game in the American League East.
The Red Sox now trail the division-leading New York Yankees by 7 1/2 games.
GAME IN A WORD
Duel.
Two veteran southpaws, Wade Miley and C.J. Wilson, went toe to toe on the West Coast. Neither starter allowed a run, setting the stage for a battle of the bullpens late in the ballgame.
That battle didn’t last too long, though, as Koji Uehara entered a scoreless game in the ninth inning and promptly surrendered a game-winning homer.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Trout went yard off Uehara.
Uehara jumped ahead in the count 0-1, but Trout — fresh off his second consecutive All-Star Game MVP award — crushed a towering homer to center field on the next pitch.
Yeah, that Trout guy’s pretty good.
ON THE BUMP
— Miley opened the second half with a gem. He tossed seven-plus shutout innings despite not factoring into the decision.
Miley didn’t allow his first baserunner until the sixth inning, when he issued a one-out walk to Chris Iannetta. He surrendered only one hit, and it didn’t come until the seventh inning, when Kole Calhoun planted a leadoff double off the center field wall.
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts saved Miley with an excellent play in the seventh. Calhoun advanced to third base when Trout flied out to right-center field for the first out of the inning. Erick Aybar then followed Albert Pujols’ shallow flyout with a ground ball to the left side. Bogaerts ranged into the hole and delivered a strong, off-balance throw to first base to prevent the Angels from scoring.
Red Sox manager John Farrell turned to the bullpen after Miley issued an eight-pitch walk to David Freese to begin the bottom of the eighth inning. The left-hander more than did his job, though. He struck out six amid his very strong performance.
— Junichi Tazawa retired all three hitters he faced in the eighth inning after replacing Miley.
The Angels squared up a couple of balls against Tazawa, but neither did any damage. Shane Victorino and Hanley Ramirez each made a running catch as the Halos stranded Freese at first base.
— Uehara retired Johnny Giavotella (popout) and Kole Calhoun (strikeout) before being victimized by Trout, who obviously is the best player in Major League Baseball.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— The Red Sox had exactly one baserunner in each of the first eight innings.
— Bogaerts and David Ortiz were responsible for four of Boston’s five hits.
— Bogaerts raised his average to .306 with his two-hit performance. He doubled in the first inning and reached on an infield single to the right side in the eighth inning.
— Pablo Sandoval walked for just the 14th time this season in the second inning.
— Dustin Pedroia went 0-for-4 in his first game back from the disabled list. Mookie Betts also went 0-for-4 hitting in front of Pedroia atop the order.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Greatness.
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UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Angels will play their second of four games Saturday night. Folks on the East Coast might not have to stay up quite as late, as the game is scheduled for 9:05 p.m. ET. (Friday night’s contest, of course, started after 10 p.m. ET.)
Rick Porcello, who had a disastrous first half, will start for the Red Sox. He’ll face Garrett Richards.
Thumbnail photo via Richard Mackson/USA TODAY Sports Images
