The Red Sox started strong, then held on for dear life, edging the Los Angeles Angels 4-3, giving them another series win and a 6-2 road trip.
The Sox got a run-scoring single from Xander Bogaerts in the first and back-to-back homers from Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez in the fourth, then didn't score again the rest of the way.
But David Price, making his first start in almost a month, and fifth different relievers did the job. The Angels narrowed the lead to a run in the eighth after Justin Upton homered off Matt Barnes.
But Brandon Workman took care of the ninth for his 10th save.
WHO: Red Sox (73-63) vs. Los Angeles Angels (65-72 )
WHEN: 4:10 p.m.
WHERE: Angel Stadium
SERIES TO DATE: 1-1
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: 3-3
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP David Price (7-5, 4.36) vs. LHP Andrew Heaney (3-3, 3.95)
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
6:44 Huge break for the Red Sox as Brian Goodwin laces a bullet that Sam Travis manages to snag with his glove before doubling up Mike Trout at first.
6:26 For the second straight game, the Red Sox get through the difficulty middle innings without using their high-leverage bullpen arms. On Saturday, three straight scoreless innings from Brian Johnson were key; this afternoon, it's two scoreless frames from Ryan Weber. Now, the trick will be to protect the lead in the final three innings better than they did Saturday.
5:38 Given that he has 12 other relievers at his disposal, not sure why I understand why Cora is sticking with Lakins -- five hits and a walk in less than two innings -- as long as he is.
5:08 That's it for Price, who leaves after just two innings and 45 pitches. Didn't expect he'd go deep, but though the Sox would get more than this out of him. On the one hand, Sox have the luxury of leaning on their bullpen because tomorrow is a scheduled off-day; on the other hand, they've asked 19 innings of their relievers in the previous two nights.
5:03 For the ninth time this season, the Red Sox go back-to-back as J.D. Martinez swats a hanging curveball out to left. He's got six homers and 18 RBI on this eight-game road trip.
5:02 The Xander Bogaerts Show continues. He's knocked in all three runs today, adding a two-run shot to CF.
4:43 As might be expected, David Price's velocity is off somewhat, given his near-monthlong layoff. But he's been able to locate for the most part.
4:15 For the third time in this series, the Red Sox score in the top of the first. This time, Xander Bogaerts singles home Mookie Betts.
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Betts RF
Devers 3B
Bogaerts SS
Martinez DH
Travis 1B
Benintendi LF
Vazquez C
Holt 2B
G. Hernandez CF
ANGELS
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox saw their three-game winning streak snapped Saturday night when the bullpen allowed seven runs in the eighth inning, turning a one-run lead into a six-run deficit....It marked the most runs the team had allowed in the eighth inning this season...The Sox are 5-2 on their current West Coast road trip, which concludes today....They're also 7-2 in their last nine road games...Gorkys Hernandez, called up from Pawtucket, will make his Red Sox debut, playing center field. Today marks the third straight game that the Sox have sat against a lefty starter...While at Pawtucket, Hernandez slashed .305/.408/.533 against lefties.....On the current road trip, J.D. Martinez has hit .448 with five homers and 17 RBI in seven games...He has an eight-game hitting streak and has scored at least one run in each of his last seven games....He also has at least one RBI in the last five games and has had multi-hit games in each of his last four games...On Saturday night, the Sox saw their streak of 19 straight games with at least one homer come to an end...It had been the second-longest stretch in franchise history...Xander Bogarts is seven hits shy of 1.000 and would become just the third Red Sox player to reach that milestone before the age of 27....Bogaerts is currently the only player in the game with 30 or more homers, 45 or more doubles and 100 or more RBI...The only shortstops to do that in history are Alex Rodriguez (1996) and Cal Ripken Jr. (1991)...Since the start of July, Mookie Betts is batting .329 with an OPS of 994. In those 34 games, he has 52 extra-base hits...Brock Holt leads the American League in batting average (.345) since returning from the IL on May 27....David Price returns from the IL to make his first start since Aug. 4...Over his previous five outings, Price was 0-3 with an ERA of 8.59...Albert Pujols is 10-for-34 with two homers lifetime against Price while Justin Upton is 3-for-8.
PRE-GAME NEWS
- The Red Sox made a host of roster moves prior to the game. They activated David Price from the IL. They also added the following players as rosters expanded: pitchers Travis Lakins, Ryan Weber, Hector Velazquez and Jhoulys Chacin; catcher Juan Centeno; outfielder Gorkys Hernandez.
- To make room for the addition of Chacin, Centeno and Hernandez to the 40-man roster, the Red Sox transferred Chris Sale and Steven Wright to the 60-day IL and outrighted minor league first baseman Joey Curletta.