The Sports Xchange
Jul 23, 2017
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Angels rank 14th in home runs in the American League, but that didn't stop them from hitting three solo shots Sunday to beat the Boston Red Sox 3-2 and win the weekend series against the AL East leaders.
Andrelton Simmons hit his 11th home run of the season in the fourth, Mike Trout his 19th to lead off the sixth and Luis Valbuena his ninth to start the seventh. All three came against Red Sox starter Rick Porcello, who allowed only one other hit.
The Red Sox, who rank last in home runs, used three two-out singles off Angels starter Parker Bridwell (4-1) for a run in the fifth and got a solo home run by Hanley Ramirez in the sixth, his 16th homer of the season.
Bridwell went a career-high seven innings, allowing two runs, five hits and a walk while striking out three. He threw just 78 pitches.
The rookie, who was obtained in an April deal with Baltimore, retired the first 10 hitters and didn't allow a hit until Sandy Leon's single in the fifth, the first of the three straight hits.
It was his fifth quality start in the seven he has made this season, and he has allowed three runs or less in six.
Porcello (4-13) went eight innings, allowing five hits and two walks. It was 20th time in 21 starts that he has gone six or more innings and the fourth straight start where he allowed three runs of less. The three home runs allowed were the most since he allowed four in a loss to Tampa Bay in April.
Porcello was once again offered little run support. The Red Sox have scored two runs or less in 11 of his last 18 starts, including five shutouts.
Simmons had two hits to continue his solid hitting the last two months. Brock Holt had two of the Red Sox's hits.
Blake Parker, who has not allowed an earned run in 24 career appearances at Angel Stadium, worked a perfect eighth. Bud Norris allowed a leadoff single in the ninth before a strikeout and double play grounder by Xander Bogaerts.
The Angels' bullpen has a streak of 12 scoreless innings with two hits, one walk and 13 strikeouts.
The Red Sox are 5-6 since the All-Star break, and the Angels' win was just their sixth in their last 15 games.
NOTES: Angels DH Albert Pujols, coming off a three-hit night, wasn't in the Angels lineup Sunday. ... Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia also got the day off. ... The Angels start a six-game road trip to Cleveland and Toronto on Tuesday. Boston starts a three-game series at Seattle on Monday. ... The Angels have scored just 58 runs in their last 20 games and rank last in the AL in runs per game at 4.07. ... The win moved the Angels to 2 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay for the second wild-card postseason berth. ... Red Sox OF Mookie Betts had an eight-game hitting streak snapped.