Recap - Sox bats go silent in rubber match

The Guru
Contributing Writer

The Red Sox were not able to muster any runs as Jared Weaver and the Angels bullpen shut down baseball's most potent offense 3-0. It was only the fifth time the Red Sox have been shut out this season.

Mike Trout and Hank Conger hit solo home runs and Mark Trumbo knocked in an insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

The Red Sox wasted another great outing from starter John Lackey. Lackey went seven innings of five hit, two run ball with one walk and nine strikeouts. Lackey has gone five straight starts in which he’s pitched at least seven innings with two or fewer runs.

Lackey's performance is usually good enough for a "W", but the Sox wasted a great opportunity in the first inning when they failed to score with two on and no out. Dustin Pedroia lined out to third and David Ortiz and Mike Napoli both struck out.

The Sox never managed another serious threat. Ortiz did reach second base in the ninth, but Ernesto Frieri shut the door for his 21st save.

It's a tough start to the ten game West Coast road trip as the Red Sox dropped 2-of-3 to the Angels. Things won't get any easier as the Sox travel to Seattle to face the Mariners ace Felix Hernandez on Monday.

Thoughts on the Angels series? Comment below.

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