BSJ Game Report: Angels 4, Red Sox 0 - Another ugly night at the plate for Boston tanks strong start on the mound

All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Angels, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Another ugly night at the plate for Boston: The Red Sox bats remain ice cold, notching just two hits in yet another sleepy night on offense as they have now lost three in a row to follow up a four-game win streak. Life was far too easy for Griffin Canning, who had a 6.14 ERA entering the game. He only had to throw five pitches in the seventh inning, even with a Triston Casas single. Jarren Duran was the only player to see a second pitch, grounding out. 

Sox squander solid start for Bello: Brayan Bello struggled early, giving up a homer on the second pitch of the game before command issues persisted. But the youngster settled in, going seven innings with six strikeouts, six hits and zero walks. The only other run he allowed was another missed spot for a home run, but other than that, you’ll take what he gave you tonight. 

TURNING POINT

Bottom of the eighth: The Red Sox were still well within striking distance, down just 2-0, but Mike Trout’s first hit of the series, a two-run shot to right field, doubled the lead, turning the molehill into a mountain, given the state of Boston’s offense.

ONE UP

Brayan Bello: Bello gave Boston a chance, despite a bit of a rocky start. Was much more efficient after the first two innings, and had 12 whiffs. Just didn’t have any run support behind him. He now has five straight starts of at least 5.0 IP, five strikeouts and two or fewer earned runs.

THREE DOWN

Reese McGuire: Boston (5 LOB) had just one at-bat with a runner in scoring position, and it ended with McGuire chasing a pitch way out of the zone for a weak strikeout to end the second inning with two runners stranded. It was one of two ugly Ks (he chased a breaking ball in the fifth) on the night for the catcher (0-for-2), who had largely been strong of late.  

Joely Rodriguez: The game was still within reach for the Red Sox, who may or may not have been able to muster up some offense, but Rodriguez diminished the chance for any momentum when he gave up a pair of doubles, a walk and a home run before Justin Garza had to come in to clean up the mess. The two-run homer to Trout, who chased after a changeup off the plate and still belted it, was the nail in the coffin.

Heart of the order: Masataka Yoshida (0-for-4), Justin Turner (0-for-3, 1 BB), Rafael Devers (0-for4), Jarren Duran (0-for-4, 2 K) and Kiké Hernández (0-for-2, 1 BB) were all hitless in this one. Only Triston Casas, Enmanuel Valdez, Devers and Yoshida (two) have hits in the series. 

QUOTE OF NOTE

"Every time [Bello] goes out there, it's a learning experience. He's just a kid," Alex Cora said. "He learned a lot today, too. He gave us a chance to win, and that's what we ask him for."

NOTABLE

Boston is four games below .500 (14-18) against right-handed pitching. They are 12-5 against lefties.

The Red Sox have just one run and two extra-base hits in their last 32 innings.

Trout's blast put him into a tie with Joe DiMaggio on the all-time home runs list with 361.

UP NEXT

Final game of the three-game set will be Wednesday against the Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET as Boston looks to salvage something from the series. LHP James Paxton (1-0, 2.45 ERA) will face LHP Tyler Anderson (1-0, 5.27 ERA).