Victor Martinez hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs as the Boston Red Sox completed a four-game sweep of the visiting Los Angeles Angels with an 11-6 victory on Thursday night.
Jeremy Hermida added a two-run double - his second key pinch-hit double in as many nights - and three RBIs to lift the Red Sox (15-14) over the .500 mark for the first time since Opening Day.
The Red Sox, who were swept in Baltimore last weekend, were rejuvenated in their home park, outscoring Los Angeles 36-16 in the series and extending the Angels’ spiral to seven straight losses.
Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-1) got the win despite 5 1/3 shaky innings. He put Boston in a quick 4-0 hole, walking three batters in a 39-pitch first inning. Howie Kendrick's two-out, two-run double was the big blow in the frame.
But Angels starter Scott Kazmir (2-2) couldn’t make the early lead stand up. He gave up a two-run homer to Martinez in the fourth to cut the lead in half and a two-run double to Martinez in a five-run fifth as the Red Sox went ahead for good, 7-4.
Mike Napoli’s two-run homer in the top of the sixth brought the Angels within 7-6, but the Red Sox answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning.
LA Angels | Boston | |
Scott Kazmir | Player | Daisuke Matsuzaka |
Loss | W/L | Win |
4.1 | IP | 5.1 |
3 | Strikeouts | 3 |
6 | Hits | 5 |
14.54 | ERA | 8.44 |
LA Angels | Boston | |
Bobby Abreu | Player | Victor Martinez |
2 | Hits | 2 |
0 | RBI | 4 |
0 | HR | 1 |
3 | TB | 6 |
1.000 | Avg | .500 |