The Boston Red Sox pounded out 14 hits and a got a strong pitching performance from Eduardo Rodriguez to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 8-2 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Thursday night.
It is the seventh straight win for the Red Sox. They are only the fifth team since 1920 and first since the 1987 Brewers to start the season with a 16-2 record.
Mookie Betts set the tone with a leadoff home run. Betts finished with two hits and is hitting .391. JD Martinez had three hits, including two doubles. Martinez is hitting .338. Rafael Devers had three hits and had his average up to .300. Andrew Benintendi had two hits, and three RBI, including his first home run of the season. Hanley Ramirez had one hit and two walks. Ramirez is hitting .323.
Rodriguez allowed two runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out five in six innings. Heath Hembree, Carson Smith, and Joe Kelly combined to pitch three shutout innings of relief.
It is the third time in franchise history that the Red Sox have hit at least 10 home runs in a three game series. The last time was 1977. The Red Sox will open up a three game series at Oakland against the Athletics on Friday night.
