Boston, MA – Mike Trout went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored as the LA Angels of Anaheim took a 9-5 win in the opener of a day/night doubleheader with the Boston Red Sox.
Mark Trumbo drove in two runs as did Erick Aybar, while Howie Kendrick added two hits and two runs scored for the Angels, who had lost five of six coming in.
Tommy Hanson (3-2) benefited from the run support as he gave up two runs on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts over five innings to pick up his first win since April 19.
Mike Carp went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored while Stephen Drew also drove in two for the Red Sox, who had won four of five coming in. Felix Doubront (4-3) gave up three runs on six hits over six innings to take the loss.
Friday's series-opener was rained out, prompting Saturday's doubleheader.
Each team wasted a scoring opportunity in the first. Josh Hamilton doubled with one out in the top of the inning, but was left stranded when Albert Pujols lined out to first and Trumbo grounded out. The Red Sox had runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the frame, but David Ortiz fanned and Mike Napoli grounded to third.
The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the second after Kendrick led off with a single, took second on a grounder to first and scored on a two-out single into left by Aybar.
Trout led off the third with a double high off the Green Monster and Hamilton drew a walk. The runners then pulled off a double steal and Trout scored on Pujols' sacrifice fly to deep center. Hamilton advanced to third on the play and scored when Trumbo grounded out for a 3-0 lead.
Carp led off the fourth with his fifth homer of the year and Jacoby Ellsbury later worked a two-out walk before stealing second. Daniel Nava then laced a single to center to plate Ellsbury to make it a 3-2 game.
The Angels, though, took over in the seventh with Franklin Morales on the mound. With one out, Trout doubled and Pujols was issued a free pass in between Hamilton's fly out to center. Trumbo chased home Trout with a double before walks to Kendrick and Alberto Callaspo forced in a run. Chris Iannetta then drew the fourth walk of the inning to plate another run, and Aybar later singled in another run for a 7-2 lead.
The Angels scored another run on a bases loaded walk to Trout in the ninth, and Hamilton followed with an infield single for a 9-2 advantage.
Boston put together five straight two-out hits in the ninth, with Carp chasing home one and Drew bringing in two with a double to make it a 9-5 game.
Ernesto Frieri, though, struck out Ellsbury to end the game and pick up his 14th save of the season.
Game Notes
There were 26 hits and 13 walks in the game ... Game time was exactly four hours ... Boston batted 4-for-16 with runners in scoring position and left 14 runners on base, while the Angels stranded 12 after going 3-for-19 with RISP ... The Angels took all six games against Boston last season and have won nine straight in the series.
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