The Los Angeles Angels scored four runs in the eighth inning to break a tie and secure a 9-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Monday night at Angel Stadium. Zach Neto opened the game with a home run and later added a key single in the decisive eighth inning, helping lift Los Angeles to a series-opening win.
The game turned in the eighth when LaMonte Wade Jr. led off with a single off Boston reliever Garrett Whitlock. Wade advanced to second on a stolen base and moved to third on a throwing error by catcher Connor Wong. Luis Rengifo then drew a walk, setting the stage for rookie Christian Moore to give the Angels a 6-5 lead with a sacrifice fly.
The Angels continued to apply pressure as Neto followed with a single, and Boston opted to intentionally walk Mike Trout to load the bases with two outs. Taylor Ward walked to force in a run, and Travis d’Arnaud capped the rally with a two-run single, stretching the lead to 9-5.
Earlier in the game, Neto set the tone with a leadoff home run, his sixth such homer of the season. He is now just one short of tying the franchise record of seven leadoff home runs in a single season, set by Brian Downing in 1987. Neto finished the game with three hits, contributing both early and late.
Boston initially took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, scoring on five hits off Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz. Wilyer Abreu delivered a two-run single, and the Red Sox added a run on a sacrifice fly from Wong in the fourth. However, the Angels responded with five runs in the bottom of the first. Boston starter Walker Buehler issued four walks and hit two batters in the inning, ultimately surrendering five runs before settling down. He exited after four innings with a career-high seven walks, though he avoided the loss.
The Red Sox tied the game at 5-5 in the sixth when Trevor Story homered off Angels reliever Ryan Zeferjahn. Boston missed another scoring opportunity in the fifth when a baserunning miscue resulted in a double play. Jarren Duran was caught in a rundown after hesitating on Abraham Toro’s grounder to shortstop. Moore applied the tag on Duran and then threw to second to retire Toro. Boston manager Alex Cora was ejected for the second straight game after arguing that Rengifo had obstructed the base with his knee.
Reid Detmers played a crucial role for the Angels in relief, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the seventh by striking out Roman Anthony and Story on consecutive fastballs clocked at 96 mph. Sam Bachman followed with a clean eighth inning and earned the win, improving to 1-0. Hector Neris recorded the final three outs after Kenley Jansen exited the ninth inning due to shoulder cramping, which he described postgame as minor.
The series continues Tuesday night with Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson (2-5, 4.56 ERA) scheduled to face Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (7-4, 2.20 ERA). According to betting markets, the Angels are narrow underdogs at +105, while the Red Sox enter the game as -125 favorites. The over/under for total runs is set at 8.
