Jared Walsh hit two solo homeruns, including the game winner in the seventh inning Wednesday afternoon to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-4 win over the Boston Red Sox at Angel Stadium in the rubber game of a three game series. It is the first series loss for Boston since losing two out of three at Tampa Bay two weeks ago.
Los Angeles (44-42) scored two in the bottom of the first inning off Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez on an RBI groundout by Walsh and an RBI single by Phil Gosselin to make it 2-0. The score stayed the same until the top of the fifth. Bobby Dalbec and Alex Verdugo both singled in runs to tie it 2-2. The Angels regained the lead for good in the bottom half when Shohei Ohtani and Walsh went back to back with solo homeruns to lead off the inning. Christian Arroyo helped the visitors get back within a run with an RBI single in the sixth, but then Walsh hit his second solo shot with two outs in the seventh off Darwinzon Hernandez to make it 5-3. The Sox once again rallied back to within a run in the eighth when JD Martinez led off with a triple, and Xander Bogaerts followed with an RBI double. Bogaerts was stranded at second though to end the threat when Rafael Devers fouled out, Hunter Renfoe struck out swinging, and Arroyo grounded out. Angels closer Rasiel Iglesias struck out the side in the ninth to wrap up the victory.
Rodriguez (6-5) took the loss allowing four runs on nine hits with no walks and five strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Bogaerts had three hits and Arroyo had two. Andrew Heaney (5-6) picked up the win allowing three runs on six hits in 5.1 innings. Steve Cishek and Mike Mayers each had a hold, and Iglesias got his 18th save. Ohtani, Walsh, and David Fletcher each had two hits. Boston takes their 54-34 record back home to Fenway to host the Philadelphia Phillies for the final series before the All-Star break beginning Friday night. RHP Garrett Richards (4-5, 4.88 ERA) takes to the hill for the BoSox against RHP Vince Velasquez (3-3, 4.50) for the Phillies in the opener.
