Based on the recent performance of the Boston Red Sox pitching staff over their recent swoon, you would expect that things could only improve.
However, the Los Angeles Angels made sure to put a stamp on Boston's struggles, obliterating the Red Sox arms en route to a stunning 21-2 victory at Fenway Park on Saturday night, just their second win in the last 12 games.
Los Angeles displays offensive earthquake
The Angels exploded for an 11-run seventh inning en route to piling up 20+ runs for the first time since 2004, with first baseman C.J. Cron (6-for-6, two home runs, six RBI) and catcher Carlos Perez (5-for-6, six RBI, two runs) becoming the first set of teammates with at least five hits and five RBI since 1936.
Los Angeles garnered an astounding 22 hits off of a much-maligned Boston arsenal, with designated hitter Albert Pujols recording two of those base knocks to accompany his five RBI and two runs, center fielder Mike Trout going 2-for-5 with three runs, and second baseman Johnny Giavotella faring 2-for-6 with a pair of runs scored.
Red Sox pitching struggles once again
The Angels chased embattled starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (L, 3-9) from the contest after 4.1 innings, hammering him for six runs (three earned) on seven hits while homering twice. The Red Sox bullpen failed to supply the team with any relief, with left-hander Robbie Ross Jr. yielding six runs on five hits while recording just one out in the seventh inning and right-hander Pat Light letting up six runs (five earned) on six hits in 1.2 innings.
On the other side of the mound, Hector Santiago (W, 5-4) went virtually unscathed through six solid innings of work, allowing one unearned run on four hits on four walks while striking out a quartet of Red Sox batters for his first win since June 15.
The Angels jumped on Buchholz immediately, with Pujols following up a ground-rule double by Trout by smacking his 15th home run of the season into center to give Los Angeles a two-run first inning lead. The advantage then grew to 3-0 in the second inning as shortstop Andrelton Simmons scored a singling Cron with an RBI sacrifice fly.
Then, Cron continued his career night in the top of the fourth inning, smashing a solo home run to left field. The lead swelled to 9-0 in the top of the fifth inning, with right fielder Kole Calhoun walking and Trout hitting a single to end Buchholz' outing, bringing in Boston reliever Heath Hembree.
Pujols proceeded to ground into what should have been an inning-ending double play, however, Boston third baseman Travis Shaw air-mailed the throw to second base, allowing all three runners to remain safe. Cron then capitalized on the opportunity, smashing a two-RBI single to center before Giavotella reached on an infield single to load the bases once again.
This opened the door for Perez, who cleared the bases with a three-run double to blow the game open.
Boston reached the board in the bottom of the stanza, as right fielder Mookie Betts (3-for-5, two runs, RBI) doubled and scored on a throwing error by Angels third baseman Yunel Escobar, however, Los Angeles flattened any idea of a Red Sox comeback in a thrilling seventh-inning display.
With Ross Jr. dealing, Perez knocked a one-out RBI single before Simmons followed that up with an RBI base knock of his own. Then, following a single by Escobar, Calhoun knocked an RBI single to left, with Simmons coming in on an error by Boston left fielder Bryce Brentz. This summoned Light from the bullpen, who promptly plunked Trout to load the bases before allowing a bases-clearing double to Pujols, pushing the gap to 16-1.
After striking out center fielder Shane Robinson, Light then relinquished a solo shot to Cron, a double to Giavotella, and a two-run bomb to Perez to round up an 11-run stanza for the Angels.
Betts continued his solid performance with a solo home run over the Green Monster in the seventh inning, however, Light simply proceeded to allow a triple to pinch-hitting third baseman Gregorio Petit. The four-year veteran then came around to score on an error by Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts, putting Boston in a 21-2 hole.