The biggest problem for the Boston pitchers in the current series is Angels first baseman C.J. Cron, who followed up a grand slam on Friday by going 6-for-6 with two home runs, five RBIs and five runs scored in Saturday’s demolition.
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The Angels got out to 9-1 lead over the Red Sox after five innings, and poured it on with 11 in the seventh en route to a commanding 21-2 win.
The Angels missed their all-time single game scoring record of 24 set in 1979 against the Blue Jays, but their 21 runs are the most since 2004.
Expect Santiago to keep wearing the new spikes.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia came out and asked the umpire to take a look.
The Sox immediately built their lead back up to five runs thanks to three-run seventh inning, keyed by Dustin Pedroia’s two-run single. He and catcher Carlos Perez, who also had five runs scored and five RBIs with a 5-for-6 afternoon, became the first pair of teammates with at least five hits and five RBIs in a game since 1936. However, he was reached for a season high-tying six runs in six frames in a no-decision against Oakland his last time out. The club record for runs is 24, set at Toronto on August 25, 1979.
The 21 runs matched Los Angeles’ combined output from its past six games, and the Angels’ 22 hits were the most for the franchise since a 17-8 win over Baltimore on August 16, 2009. Pujols tacked on another five RBI while going 2-for-5.
The Red Sox’ bats were fairly dormant until the fifth inning when they exploded for seven runs, driving Shoemaker from the game.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Red Sox against the Angels. “We got kicked around the ballpark tonight”.
Bradley’s second assist came in the third after O’Sullivan hit Jett Bandy and he advanced to second on an Andrelton Simmons bunt single.
Cron homered over the Monster in the fourth to make it 4-0.
Pujols is eight behind Mark McGwire for 10th on the career homer list.
After striking out center fielder Shane Robinson, Light then relinquished a solo shot to Cron, a double to Giavotella, and a two-run bomb to Perez to round up an 11-run stanza for the Angels.
Sean O’Sullivan (2-0) held Los Angeles (33-49) was working on a shutout when he was removed after consecutive singles opening the sixth.
Angels: 3B Escobar played his second straight game after missing seven in a row because of a tender left knee. Hanley Ramirez went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run.
Red Sox: Farrell said switch-hitting OF/C Blake Swihart (sprained left ankle) took BP indoors, but only from the left side to avoid stress on the ankle. When healthy, the plan is to shift him to relief and prepare him to work out of Boston’s bullpen.
RHP Sean O’Sullivan will be recalled from Pawtucket to start Sunday’s series finale against the Angels.
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In other games, Miami won 7-5 in 12 innings at Atlanta, the New York Mets beat the visiting Chicago Cubs 10-2, San Francisco won 6-4 at Arizona, Washington needed 14 innings to beat visiting Cincinnati 3-2, Houston beat Chicago White Sox 5-0 at home, Texas won 3-2 at Minnesota and St Louis won 7-1 at home to Milwaukee.
