ANAHEIM, Calif. -- All you need to know about the Red Sox' 10-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels, in quickie form, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Red Sox plate discipline solves Ohtani: Shohei Ohtani, the Angels' rookie sensation, couldn't throw his split-finger fastball for strikes and the Red Sox wisely laid off the pitch when it was out of the strike zone. Even with a fastball that was routinely 96 mph or better, Ohtani didn't have enough weapons to attack the Boston lineup. The Sox were up 1-0 after the first batter on the first of two solo homers on the night by Mookie Betts, then added two more in the second as four straight hitters reached. Ohtani, who had been overpowering in each of his first two starts, needed 64 pitches to get through the first two innings, and just over half of those (34) were thrown for strikes. After the second, Ohtani didn't return and the Angels later announced that he had developed a blister on his right hand during the second inning.
Starting pitching continues to shine: Red Sox lefty David Price had some control issues, with four walks issued in his five innings of work. But he allowed just three hits -- all singles -- and the Angels really didn't hit the ball hard off him all night. There was plenty of attention on Price after he came out of his last start after just one inning, bothered by a circulation issue that resulted in numbness in his left hand. But other than the walks, Price didn't show any after-effects. He also struck out six. In their first 16 games, Red Sox starters have limited the opposition to a single run or no runs 12 timers.
Betts returns with a bang: Betts injured his left foot in a collision at home plate in the first inning of Saturday's game; he was removed and didn't play Sunday as a precaution. Cleared to return for the start of the road trip, Betts made his presence felt quickly, with a leadoff homer, the 12th of his career. After a second inning walk, Betts clubbed another homer in the third -- this one off Luke Bard, who had replaced Ohtani after the second inning. And still Betts wasn't done, homering a third time, this one off Cam Bedrosian, in the eighth. It was the third three-homer of his career. "It's pretty fun anytime you can do something like that,'' said Betts.
TURNING POINT
Even after chasing Ohtani after just two innings, the Red Sox were only ahead 3-0. But with two out in the third, the Sox unleashed their power and belted three homers in the span of four hitters -- as Jackie Bradley Jr., Brock Holt and Betts all went deep -- to turn the game into a rout.
TWO UP
Jackie Bradley Jr.: Bradley was just 1-for-10 in the series against the Orioles, but collected three hits Tuesday -- including his first homer of the season -- and also lined out sharply in his final at-bat. The homer was positively crushed, too -- halfway up the right field bleachers on a hanging slider.
Brock Holt: Holt came into the game hitting just .189, but went 2-for-4 with a run-scoring single in his first trip to the plate, followed by a long homer to right in the third, part of the Red Sox bust-out inning.
ONE DOWN
Andrew Benintendi: Benintendi continues to run hot-and-cold. On this night, he did have a sacrifice fly to score the third run of the game, but was hitless in three other plate appearances
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The Red Sox had back-to-back homers (Holt and Betts in the third inning) for the first time this season.
- The three homers in the third marked the first time the Sox had hit that many in the same inning since June 29, 2012 in Seattle.
- Betts has reached base in 11 of his last 13 games.
- Bradley enjoyed his second three-hit game of the season
- Holt's homer was his first since Sept 7, 2016.