BOSTON (AP) — Rafael Devers hit his sixth homer of the season to put Boston ahead, and the Red Sox took advantage of three Los Angeles errors to beat the Angels 5-3 on Friday night.
Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon made two throwing errors, and the Red Sox scored two runs in the sixth inning without recording a hit to make it 5-2. Aaron Loup opened the inning by hitting two batters, and one later scored on the second of Rendon's miscues. Another run came in on a passed ball by catcher Logan O'Hoppe.
“That’s part of the game, right?” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “I always say that, at this level, if you give the opposition more than 27 outs, at one point they’re going to make you pay and we did. We put the ball in play, we ran hard, they threw the ball away, and we got a W.”
Devers' homer off reliever Jimmy Herget (0-2) gave the Red Sox a 3-2 lead in the fifth. One inning earlier, Devers led off by reaching on an error by shortstop Luis Rengifo. Kiké Hernández drove in Devers with a double and later scored the tying run on Rendon's first error.
Boston finished with five hits and six walks.
“We just made uncharacteristic mistakes,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “And, if you do that at this level, you’re going to get the result we just did. We’re better than that. We all know that. Mistakes happen. Just one of those nights.”
Josh Winckowski (1-0) allowed one run in three innings in relief of Tanner Houck, who gave up two runs in four innings, striking out six. Kenley Jansen struck out the side in the ninth — fanning Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani and Hunter Renfroe — for his third save.
“Man, it was fun,” Jansen said. “Facing the best hitters in the game, and I got out of it. So, definitely a good feeling, especially my first save at Fenway. So that’s a good one.”
Renfroe had a two-run double in the first for the Angels. Rendon finished 3-for-4 with an RBI groundout. Los Angeles starter Patrick Sandoval allowed two unearned runs in 3 2/3 innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: INF Jared Walsh has completed a program to help him deal with the insomnia and headaches that have sidelined him so far this season, but there is no timetable for his return.
Red Sox: LF Masataka Yoshida, sidelined since Tuesday with right hamstring tightness, is expected to return to the lineup Saturday. ... RHP Brayan Bello (right elbow inflammation) is expected to be activated and start Monday morning in Boston's traditional Patriots' Day game, opposed by Ohtani. ... LHP James Paxton, who has been sidelined with a right hamstring strain, made a rehab start Friday with Triple-A Worcester. He is expected to make at least one more rehab start.
UP NEXT
Left-hander Tyler Anderson (1-0, 4.22 ERA) is scheduled to make his second career start against the Red Sox on Saturday and first at Fenway Park. Right-hander Nick Pivetta (0-1, 0.90) will make his third career start against the Angels.
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