The Boston Red Sox had 14 hits and nailed five homeruns including two by JD Martinez on Friday night, all while taking down the visiting Los Angeles Angels 16-4 at Fenway Park for their third straight win.
After a stellar performance by Chris Sale on the mound in a Thursday night 3-0 Boston win where the lefthander didn’t allow any runs on two hits with 13 strikeouts, the Sox turned to Brian Johnson on the hill Friday to start for the injured David Price. Johnson had a rough top of the first inning. The lefty threw 30 pitches and allowed a two out three run homer to Albert Pujols deep over the monster in left to make it 3-0 Angels. Johnson would settle in and didn’t allow any additional runs before being lifted with two outs in the third inning. The hosts would pick it up offensively. Martinez started his big night when he hit a two out RBI double in the first to cut it to 3-1. Martinez then would tie the score with a two run homer to right center into the Sox bullpen in the fourth.
Mookie Betts gave Boston (62-56) the lead for good with a two run homer to left in the fifth. The Sox broke it open in the sixth with five more runs when Sam Travis walked with the bases loaded, Jackie Bradley Jr. reached on a fielders choice that ended up as an Angels error that scored two runners, and Rafael Devers hit a two run single for a 10-3 lead. Martinez hit a solo homer to right center again into the Boston bullpen for his second of the night and 27th of the year in the bottom of the seventh, and Mitch Moreland added an RBI double in the same frame. The home scoring was capped off in a four run bottom of the eighth when Devers hit a solo homer, Christian Vazquez hit an RBI single, and Moreland hit the fifth homer for the Sox on the night with a two run shot. Los Angeles (56-61) got their other run on a bases loaded walk in the seventh, only mustering one run on one hit after the three run top of the first.
Johnson got a no decision in the Sox win allowing three runs in 2.2 innings. The bullpen was solid as Marcus Walden, Nathan Eovaldi, Hector Valazquez, and Josh Taylor combined to shut down the Angels allowing only one run on one hit over 6.1 innings. Walden (7-1) was credited with the win. Martinez had four hits (two doubles, two homers) and four RBI to lead the way. Devers and Moreland each had two hits and three RBI. Betts and Vazquez also added two hits a piece. Martinez now has at least two hits in five straight games. Pujols led the LA offense with his three run homer. The visitors had three hits on the night, and no batter with more than one. Jaime Barria (4-6) took the loss allowing five runs on six hits in 5.0 innings. The Angels bullpen was hammered for 11 runs on eight hits in 3.0 innings.
The Red Sox go for the series win Saturday evening at 4:05 p.m. in game three of the four game set. Rick Porcello for Boston and Andrew Heaney for Los Angeles is the scheduled pitching matchup.
Boston designated hitter/outfielder JD Martinez jogs home after hitting a homerun recently against Tampa Bay at Fenway Park. Martinez nailed two more homeruns on Friday night to help the Red Sox beat the Angels. Photo courtesy of Delaney Gardner
