Angels edge Red Sox on two-run, walk-off error
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[July 29, 2016]
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Out of the
corner of his eye, Hanley Ramirez could see Mike Trout racing toward
the plate.
The Boston Red Sox first baseman, worried about Trout's speed, then
rushed his throw home, the ball sailing past catcher Sandy Leon and
allowing the Los Angeles Angels to score the tying and winning runs
in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 2-1 victory Thursday night
at Angel Stadium.
David Price threw eight scoreless innings to give the Red Sox a 1-0
lead heading to the ninth. However, Price made 109 pitches to that
point, so Red Sox manager John Farrell went to Brad Ziegler to close
it out.
Ziegler, acquired from the Diamondbacks on July 9 and filling in for
closer Craig Kimbrel (left knee), gave up an infield single to Trout
and a single to Albert Pujols to start the inning.
Carlos Perez was called upon to pinch-hit for Jefry Marte because of
his ability to bunt, but he fell behind in the count 0-2. He tried
to bunt again but missed and struck out.
Andrelton Simmons followed with a line-drive single to center, but
third base coach Gary DiSarcina held Trout at third.
Daniel Nava, pinch-hitting for Jett Bandy, then hit a sharp grounder
right to Ramirez, whose his error allowed both Trout and pinch
runner Ji-Man Choi to score, giving the Angels an improbable
victory.
"It just looked like he didn't set his feet," Farrell said. "You're
playing catch with the catcher in that situation. Knowing the speed
of Trout at third base, (Ramirez) hurried his throw, and it was
errant. That's a routine play that Hanley's made many times over.
Unfortunately, tonight we didn't execute defensively as a club."
Ramirez said he was thinking double play, which contributed to him
rushing his throw.
"I know that I got Trout on third and I know he's coming," Ramirez
said. "But still, I got to make sure I get one. I can't start
running before I throw it. That's a mental error, that's a mental
mistake right there. I know what I did wrong, and I'll come back
tomorrow and hopefully it won't happen again."
Trout got a good jump on the ball and figured the play at the plate
would be close.
"I took a peek, and I was looking at the catcher, trying to see what
he was doing, but I knew they were coming home there," Trout said.
"I saw the throw high and just told myself to get down, and it went
over his head. ...
"We just gave ourselves a chance at the end of the game, and won the
game."
Until the ninth, Price was the story of the night; his performance
should quiet his critics for the moment. He allowed 11 hits in each
of his previous two starts, and his season ERA was up to 4.51, so
given his $30 million-a-year salary, the natives were getting
restless.
Price responded Thursday with one of his best starts of the year,
shutting down an Angels offense that entered the night leading the
majors in runs scored in July (6.4 per game).
Price gave up seven hits, but only one after the fifth inning. He
struck out six and walked one.
"He was strong, he was powerful, had his best stuff to record a
strikeout of (Kole) Calhoun to finish the eighth," Farrell said. "He
had a very good two-seamer and a changeup with darting action down
in the strike zone with so many ground balls here tonight.
"On a night when he was his normal self and the guy we pursued to
bring in here, he pitched outstanding."
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Angels left fielder Jefry Marte (19) tags out Boston Red Sox right
fielder Mookie Betts (50) on a stolen base attempt in the eighth
inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The Angels defeated the Red Sox
2-1. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Angels' best chance to score against Price came in the fifth
inning when they got three hits and a walk, but a baserunning
blunder cost them.
Los Angeles had runners on first and second with one out when Marte
tried to steal third but was thrown out by the Leon for the second
out of the inning.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia said after the game that Marte misread
a sign and should not have been running on the play.
It proved costly for the Angels because Gregorio Petit and Johnny
Giavotella followed with consecutive singles to load the bases
before Yunel Escobar grounded into an inning-ending force play.
Angels starter Jered Weaver was effective, giving up one run and six
hits in 5 2/3 innings, but his high pitch count (104) force
Scioscia's hand. Weaver loudly showed his displeasure at his removal
from the game.
The only run the Red Sox scored against Weaver came on Mookie Betts'
third-inning sacrifice fly.
Four relievers combined to shut out the Red Sox over the final 3 1/3
innings, keeping the game close and giving the Angels a chance.
Cam Bedrosian (1-0) threw one scoreless inning for the win.
NOTES: The Angels' protest of Wednesday's game in Kansas City was
denied by the league office. Angels manager Mike Scioscia contended
that Royals baserunner Raul Mondesi Jr. had run out of the baseline
while running to first base, but the protest was overruled because
it was a judgment call by the umpire. ... Angels 1B/DH Albert
Pujols, who went 2-for-4, entered the day leading the majors in RBIs
in July with 28. With 78 RBIs this season, Pujols is on pace for
125. ... Red Sox DH David Ortiz has 25 home runs for the 12th time
in his career -- all 12 with Boston. Only Ted Williams has had more
25-plus homer seasons (14) in a Red Sox uniform. ... Red Sox 2B
Dustin Pedroia has reached base safely via hit, walk or hit-by-pitch
in 31 consecutive games, dating to June 21. ... The Red Sox began
Thursday fourth in the American League with 61 stolen bases, but
they led the majors with a stolen base success rate of 84.7 percent.
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