Never count out the Boston Red Sox.
Steven Wright endured another shaky start, but the offense made sure Boston escaped Anaheim with a series split thanks to a miraculous two-out comeback in the top of the ninth inning. A Mookie Betts RBI single and back-to-back home runs by Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts proved to be the difference in the Red Sox’s 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Here’s how it all went down.
GAME IN A WORD
Wild.
The Red Sox didn’t score any runs until there were two outs in the ninth inning, but they more than made up for it with a wild five-run rally to take the lead.
IT WAS OVER WHEN …
Boston’s bats came to life in the top of the ninth.
L.A. was one out away from winning the four-game series 3-1, but Pedroia’s three-run homer gave Boston the lead in a crazy rally.
ON THE BUMP
— Wright got off to a rocky start, although he managed to escape the first inning without allowing any runs. Mike Trout hit what probably should have been an RBI single with no outs, especially after catcher Ryan Hanigan dropped the throw at home, but Yunel Escobar missed the plate and Wright eventually tagged him out. The Angels later loaded the bases, but Andrelton Simmons struck out swinging on a wild pitch, on which Kole Calhoun tried to score, but Hanigan’s throw to Wright beat him.
Whether Wright would wear sleeves to help with his knuckleball in warm weather was a topic of conversation before the game, and he started off the game sleeveless. However, he began the bottom of the fourth inning wearing compression sleeves, a switch that came after he took a liner from Trout off the right forearm.
The Angels scored the first three runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth on RBI singles by Trout and Jefry Marte and Albert Pujols’ RBI groundout. That ended up being Wright’s final inning, as he allowed three earned runs on 10 hits with two walks and five strikeouts in five innings.
— Clay Buchholz came on in relief to start the bottom of the sixth. He pitched three scoreless and hitless innings.
— Brad Ziegler closed out the win thanks to Pedroia, who turned a nice double play.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Boston only had two hits through four innings, but a pair of singles in the fifth presented it with its best offensive opportunity of the game up to that point. However, Pedroia and Bogaerts both struck out to end the threat, and manager John Farrell was ejected for the third time this season for arguing balls and strikes after Pedroia’s K.
Tyler Skaggs only went 5 1/3 innings against the Red Sox, but he limited Boston to those four hits and zero runs.
— The Red Sox mounted an incredible comeback in the top of the ninth against Angels closer Huston Street. Jackie Bradley Jr. led off the ninth with a walk, and Aaron Hill moved him into scoring position with a single. Street came right back and struck out Hanigan and Holt, but Betts later drove in Boston’s first run with an RBI single. Pedroia then cleared the bases with a three-run homer, and Bogaerts followed with a solo shot of his own.
TWEET OF THE DAY
Oops.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox continue their 11-game road swing with the opening of a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners at 10:10 p.m. ET on Monday. Eduardo Rodriguez will get the start opposite James Paxton at Safeco Field.
Thumbnail photo via Richard Mackson/USA TODAY Sports Images
