Los Angeles Angels vs Boston Red Sox Match Player Stats On Jun 23, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jun 23, 2017

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox retired David Ortiz's No. 34 in a pre-game ceremony and then went out and built a six-run lead en route to a 9-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.

Sandy Leon drove in four runs with a two-run homer and two-run double, and Hanley Ramirez also hit a two-run homer for Boston. Rick Porcello avoided becoming the major league's first 10-game loser as the Red Sox opened a seven-game homestand with the win.

The Red Sox (40-32) entered the game a percentage point behind the New York Yankees in the AL East.

They scored three runs on one hit off Alex Meyer (3-4) in the first inning, Meyer wild-pitched home two of the runs after Xander Bogaerts' RBI double.

Ramirez hit his 10th homer of the season and the 250th of his career in the fourth, while Leon, who had his second four-RBI game of the season (tying his career high), connected in the sixth and then doubled home the pair in the eighth.

Porcello (4-9) had allowed a run on five hits through 6 1/3 innings before three straight extras base hits ended his night. Three relievers finished up. It was Porcello's first win in his last six starts dating to May 23.

Martin Maldonado, Cliff Pennington and Kole Calhoun had RBI doubles for the Angels (38-39) in the seventh.

Eduardo Paredes made his major league debut and Huston Street, activated Thursday, played in 2017 for the first time.

With Red Sox greats Carl Yastrzemski, Pedro Martinez, Jim Rice and Wade Boggs among those on hand, Ortiz received his usual ovation from the Papi-loving crowd pre-game.

"Walking out there and seeing -- there wasn't an empty seat," he said later. "It made me feel like one of those important games that we have where the fans want to be there from the very beginning and show some love and support. It was pretty amazing."

The Red Sox then scored three runs on one hit -- an RBI double by Bogaerts -- in the first inning, as two of Meyer's 38 pitches were wild for runs.

Albert Pujols, an old and close friend of Ortiz, opened the fourth inning with a double and, after Porcello struck out the next two hitters, Pujols moved to third on Andrelton Simmons' second single of the game. Andrew Benintendi, who had a first-inning assist, threw home and the ball got by catcher Leon to allow Pujols to score.

Meyer threw his third wild pitch in the bottom of the inning, but it really didn't matter as Ramirez homered after Benintendi, who doubled, was wild pitched to third. Two straight singles later Meyer was done.

NOTES: Veteran RHP Doug Fister, who opted out of a minor league deal with the Angels after three starts, was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox and will start against the Angels in Sunday's series finale. ... Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia, who missed the three games in Kansas City after being struck in the back with a pitch Sunday in Houston, was a late addition to the lineup, with Josh Rutledge nursing a sore hip. ... Pedroia was the final speaker before David Ortiz at the pre-game ceremony, noting Ortiz was "family," -- Ortiz, dabbing tears, then said, "The little guy made me cry." ... 3B Jhonny Peralta signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox and will report to Pawtucket. ... The Angels optioned 1B C.J. Cron to Triple-A and recalled RHP Eduardo Paredes, giving the club an eight-man bullpen. ... Red Sox RHP Carson Smith, coming back from Tommy John surgery, will rest this weekend and be re-evaluated on Monday. ... RHP J.C. Ramirez pitches for the Angels against LH David Price in Saturday night's game.