BOSTON (Reuters) - Catcher Victor Martinez blasted the Boston Red Sox out of an early hole to help his side batter Los Angeles 11-6 on Thursday, and consign the Angels to their seventh successive loss.
The struggling Angels scored four times in the first inning, before Martinez hit a two-run homer in the third inning and added a two-run double in the fifth when the Red Sox (15-14) scored five times to help complete a four-game sweep of Los Angeles.
Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka earned his first win of the season despite his first inning trouble. He lasted 5 1/3 innings and allowed five runs in just his second start of the season after missing April with a neck injury.
Angels pitcher Scott Kazmir was shellacked for seven runs and walked five batters, while reliever Brian Stokes was charged with four runs in the sixth when Adrian Beltre hit an RBI single while Boston also scored on a walk, an error and a fielder's choice.
Boston got two hits and three runs from Dustin Pedroia and three RBIs from Jeremy Hermida.
"We've been playing good the last four days," Pedroia said as the Red Sox completed an ideal preparation for a series with the World Series champion New York Yankees beginning on Friday.
"We've got another tough team coming in here. It's going to be some big games, and we're excited to keep it going."
Howard Kendrick had a two-run double for the Angels in the first while Mike Napoli homered in the sixth to briefly bring the visitors to 7-6.
(Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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