All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Angels, complete with BSJ analysis and insight
Outfield defense saves the day: This one might not have been decided until Adam Ottavino got Shohei Ohtani to ground out with two on and two out in the ninth, but at several points over the course of the Sox' 10th win in 11 tries, the defense turned in by the outfield made the difference in this one. In the second inning, with one runner on base and two out, center fielder Kike Hernandez leaped above the wall to take a homer away from Luis Rengifo, bringing the ball back from the top of the wall on what otherwise would have been a two-run shot. In the fifth inning, it was Danny Santana's turn. Santana, who entered the game in the third to replace the injured Marwin Gonzalez (right hamstring) fielded a single by Ohtani and made a one-hop throw to the plate to cut down Jose Rojas, with Christian Vazquez getting the tag on just in time. It marked the third time in the last four games that a Red Sox outfielder had gunned down a baserunner at the plate. Finally, Hernandez struck again when he fielded a ball off the wall in right center from Max Stassi and fired a strike to second base where Stassi was cut down trying to stretch a single into a double. The two outfield assists gave the Sox outfield 28 assists for the season; going into Monday's game, no other team in the big leagues has as many as 20.
Devers continues to pile up RBI's: Ohtani may be the biggest name in the sport right now, captivating fans with his hitting and pitching prowess. He'll undoubtedly be the enter of attention next week at the All-Star Game in Denver. But Ohtani hasn't taken up all the oxygen in the game -- Rafael Devers is arguably the best run producer in the sport right now. Devers added to a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a run-scoring single. Then, in the fourth inning, he cracked a pitch to right-center for his 21st homer. Even after losing two RBI over the weekend because of an official scoring change made on a double from the team's last road trip, he still leads all of MLB in RBI. And, of course, all three of his RBI came with two outs because no one is tougher with two outs. He has 21 RBI in the last 21 games.
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox bullpen has been exemplary of late when it comes to stranding inherited runners and that was the case again Monday night in the sixth inning. With the Sox leading 5-2 and one out with a runner on third. Hirokazu Sawamura entered and got Jose Iglesias on an infield popup before retiring Jose Lagares on a groundout, stranding Phil Gosselin at third base.
TWO UP
Martin Perez: Perez turned in what might be considered a fairly typical start for him this season -- 5.2 innings, two runs allowed, one earned run -- and gave the Red Sox a chance to win the game, as he's done far more often than not.
Christian Arroyo: Fresh off the IL earlier in the day, Arroyo made his presence felt with a solo homer in the second for the first run of the game, and also turned in a number of sparkling plays at second base.
ONE DOWN
Chrisitan Vazquez: Vazquez was 0-for-4 at the plate, and also was guilty of a passed ball that led directly to an unearned run for the Angels in the second inning.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I was trying it ever getting to that point. I had in the back of my mind, 'Don't let Ohtani come up.' But, of course, it happens.'' - Adam Ottavino on facing Shohei Ohtani with the tying and winning runs on base in the bottom of the ninth.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* Josh Taylor extended his consecutive scoreless streak to 26 straight games, one shy of the club record.
* Both Xander Bogaerts (29 games) and J.D. Martinez (23 games) extended their on-base streaks in the first inning when they each worked walks.
* Red Sox starters have now gone six straight games without allowing more than two earned runs.
* After beginning the trip with an 8-13 mark against teams from the A.L. West, the Red Sox are 3-1 so far no the West Coast.
* The Sox are now 15-5 in their last 20 games.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Angels continue their series Tuesday night at 9:38 p.m. with RHP Nathan Eovaldi (9-4, 3.41) vs. LHP Shohei Ohtani (3-1, 3.60)