Red Sox at Angels
The Boston Red Sox were on the verge of a sixth straight win before a stunning loss Saturday. The Los Angeles Angels will try to carry the momentum of a walk-off win into the rubber match when they host the Red Sox in the series finale Sunday. The Angels tied it with four runs in the ninth and won on Josh Hamilton’s walk-off homer in the 11th on Saturday.
Hamilton was setting himself up to be the goat of the series, with an error that led to a run in each of the first two games, before driving in a run in the ninth Saturday and blasting that homer in the 11th. Los Angeles has committed five errors in the two games and Hamilton‘s seven on the season rank first among major-league outfielders. Boston has won nine of its last 11 games.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH John Lackey (6-5, 2.81 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jered Weaver (2-4, 3.79)
Lackey used to serve as Los Angeles’ ace and is finally starting to show that form in his fourth season in Boston. The veteran right-hander has surrendered two or fewer earned runs and has gone at least seven innings in each of his last four starts. Lackey, who has 27 strikeouts and just three walks in the last four turns, is 4-1 with a 4.32 ERA in five starts against his former team.
Weaver, who currently resides at the top of the Angels' staff, went all of June without a win but held St. Louis to one run over seven innings to start July with a victory Tuesday. The 30-year-old had not pitched past the sixth inning in any of his first seven starts but has completed seven frames in the last two. Weaver has had a tough time against the Red Sox in his career, going 3-5 with a 4.31 ERA in 13 career starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels CF Mike Trout will join Boston’s DH David Ortiz, 2B Dustin Pedroia and RHP Clay Buchholz on the AL All-Star team.
2. Red Sox CF Jacoby Ellsbury has hit safely in 16 straight games.
3. Hamilton is 12-for-27 with four home runs in his career against Lackey.