The Red Sox neutralized Shohei Ohtani and held off Los Angeles Angels, 5-4, for their 10th win in their last 11 tries -- but not before some anxious moments in the bottom of the ninth.
The Sox got a two-run homer from Rafael Devers and a solo shot from Christian Arroyo to account for three of their runs.
Martin Perez limited the Angels to two runs -- one earned -- over 5.1 innings.
In the ninth, the Angels rallied for a run and had the potential tying and winning runs on base before Adam Ottavino got Ohtani to ground out to Arroyo in shallow right. In five plate appearances, Ohtani was limited to a single in the fifth.
Three Red Sox relievers took care of the final 11 outs, including yet another scoreless outing from lefty Josh Taylor who extended his streak to 26 straight games, one shy of the club record.
: Red Sox (53-32) vs. Los Angeles Angels (42-41)
WHEN: 9:38 p.m.
WHERE: Angel Stadium
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: BOS 2-1
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Martin Perez (6-4, 4.04) vs. LHP Jose Suarez (3-1, 1.98)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI FM 93.7
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Hernandez CF
Devers 3B
Martinez DH
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Renfroe RF
Vazquez C
Arroyo 2B
Gonzalez LF
Dalbec 1B
ANGELS
Fletcher 2B
Ohtani DH
Walsh 1B
Gosselin LF
Stassi C
Iglesias SS
Lagares CF
Rengifo 3B
Rojas RF
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
B7: If there's been a weakness for Sawamura in his first season, it's his propensity for giving up homers. Gets taken deep by Jose Rojas. That's seven homers allowed in 34 innings.
B6: Tough to keep track of all the outfield assists. This time, it's Kike Hernandez guns down Max Stassi, trying to stretch a single. That's all for Perez, who gives way to Hirokazu Sawamura.
B5: Yet another run cut down at the plate for the Red Sox outfield, as Santana throws out Jose Rojas at the plate attempting to score from second on a single by Ohtani. That's outfield assist No. 27 for the Sox outfield this season.
T5: Santana lines a single to right-center, driving in a run.
B4: Sox announce that Gonzalez came out for ''right hamstring tightness.''
T4: Dylan Bundy throws a pitch that should never be thrown to Devers -- down and in -- and pays for with a 405-foot two-run homer.
B3: Gonzalez pulled from the game, replaced by Danny Santana in left. No reason given yet.
B2: Tremendous leaping catch by Kike Hernandez, who takes a homer away from Luis Rengifo, saving two runs.
B2: Sloppy play from Marwin Gonzalez, who drifts back casually on a sac fly to left and isn't in position to make a strong throw to second, allowing Jose Iglesias to move up to second as Max Stassi scores the first Angels run.
T2: Rafael Devers hammers a fastball with a line drive to right, scoring Marwin Gonzalez.
T2: Christian Arroyo, who has shown a flair for the dramatic this season, hits a homer in his first at-bat since coming off the IL, putting the Sox up 1-0.
B1: Strong first inning from Martin Perez -- highlighted by a strikeout of Shohei Ohtani, who couldn't handle a change-up down-and-in.
WHAT's UP: The Red Sox are tied for the MLB lead in wins and own sole possession of the AL’s best record (53-32, .624). The Sox have won nine of their last 10 games and are 21-9 (.700) in their last 30. The Sox are one of only two teams without a losing streak of longer than three games this season (also NYM)....This is only the 12th time the Red Sox have won at least 53 of their first 85 games, having most recently done so in 2018, 2007, 2006, and 1986. Under the 10-team playoff format from 2012-2019, 13 of the 14 teams who won 53 or more of their first 85 games made the postseason....The Red Sox lead the AL East by 4.5 games, their largest lead of the season. The Sox are 10-14 (.417) against AL West teams and 43-18 (.705) against all others....The Red Sox own MLB’s best road record (26-15, .634), but they are only 4-7 at AL West ballparks (1-3 at HOU, 1-3 at TEX, 2-1 at OAK). The Red Sox are 27-17 at home, including 27-14 (.659) since getting swept by BAL to begin the season...Their .614 winning percentage at home ranks third in the AL...The Red Sox lead the majors with 28 come-from-behind wins this season...They are an MLB-leading 26-13 (.667) in games decided by one or two runs. The Sox lead the majors in runs scored with two outs (182)...With RISP and two outs, the Sox lead MLB in AVG (.285), SLG (.506), and OPS (.876). The Sox lead MLB in 2-strike RBI (171)...Rafael Devers (34) and Xander Bogaerts (27) rank first and tied for second respectively in MLB in two-strike RBI...The Red Sox rank in the top three in the majors in runs scored (second, 435), AVG (third, .259), SLG (third, .439), OPS (third, .761), doubles (first, 180), and XBH (first 296). The Red Sox have hit four or more homers an MLB-best eight times. The Sox lead MLB with 19 three-run homers. The Sox are an MLB-best 46-5 (.902) when scoring four or more runs., 40-4 when scoring five or more, 34-2 when scoring six or more, and 25-0 when scoring seven or more...The Red Sox have allowed two ER or fewer in eight of their last 11 games...During that time, they lead the AL with a 2.21 ERA ... Sox pitchers have issued three walks or fewer in seven of their last eight games.....The Sox lead the AL with 1.02 HR allowed per 9.0 IP...Red Sox starting pitchers have thrown five or more innings innings and allowed two runs or fewer in each of their last five games,. with no runs allowed in three of those games....In that time, they have posted a 1.19 ERA and .185 opponent AVG, Sox starters have allowed no homers in their last four games. Sox starters have thrown five or more innings 66 times, third-most in the majors (44-22 in those games) ...Red Sox relievers rank third in the AL and seventh in the majors in ERA (3.46)...Their nine active relievers have a combined 2.91 ERA for the Sox ...In their last 19 games, Sox relievers have posted a 2.36 ERA ...They have stranded 17 of their last 18 inherited runners. The Red Sox have a 2.92 ERA in innings seven through nine, MLB’s fourth-lowest mark....Josh Taylor has made 25 consecutive scoreless appearances (20.1 IP), MLB’s longest streak of 2021. Bogaerts (28 G) and J.D. Martinez (22 G) have the two longest active on-base streaks in MLB...The Sox lead MLB with 26 outfield assists this season, after leading the majors with 18 in 2020...No other team has as many as 20 outfield assists this season. Sox outfielders rank third in MLB with 19 defensive runs saved (TB-23, MIA-21)...They rank fourth in MLB with a 9.2 ultimate zone rating....Martin Perez has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 10 of his last 13 starts. The Red Sox have won his last three starts...Has a 1.93 ERA in that time, after allowing 11 ER in 3.1 IP in his previous two starts. Has won six of his last nine starts, tossing five or more innings with three earned runs or fewer in each of the six wins....He ranks second in the AL in called third strikes this season (39), behind teammate Eduardo Rodriguez (40).
NOTES:
* Alex Cora remains in awe of the season Shohei Ohtani is having. "It has to be very hard to prepare to do both (hit and pitch) at this level,'' said Cora. "The workouts, the bullpens...This is the best level in baseball and for him to be able to be successful at both is amazing.''.
* The Red Sox activated infielders Christian Arroyo from the IL and optioned Michael Chavis to Worcester. Arroyo missed the last two weeks with a shin contusion. He'll likely see a lot of action at second base against lefthanders. "Hopefully, he gets n a groove right away and he can contribute,'' said Cora. "We're glad that he's back, glad that he's healthy.''
* Chris Sale will throw two innings in a simulated game in Fort Myers, after which the Red Sox expected to line him up for his first rehab start for one of their upper level affiliates. That could come as soon as the weekend.
* Connor Seabold, who has missed time since May with inflammation in his elbow, is set to throw three innings for the team's affiliate in Fort Myers in the Gulf Complex League.