Betts blasts 3 homers as Red Sox rock Ohtani, Angels
The Red Sox and a blister teamed up to knock out Los Angeles Angels sensation Shohei Ohtani, and Boston posted a 10-1 win in a game matching the teams with the two best records in the majors Tuesday night at Anaheim, Calif.
With Mookie Betts' three home runs leading the way, the Red Sox ended the Angels' winning streak at seven games while extending their own winning streak to five.
Ohtani left after two innings, and the Angels announced that his exit was caused by a blister on his right (pitching) hand. However, the Red Sox had already roughed up the Japanese star for three runs and four hits in the opening two frames.
It was clear right from the start that Ohtani's fate would be quite different than his previous start on April 8, when he didn't allow an Oakland A's batter to reach base until the seventh inning. Betts led off the game with the first of his three homers. The Boston right fielder also homered in the third and eighth innings.
In the second inning, Ohtani (2-1) gave up an RBI single to Brock Holt and a sacrifice fly to Andrew Benintendi as Boston increased its lead to 3-0. Ohtani also walked two in the inning, matching his walk total in his first two starts combined, covering 13 innings.
Ohtani, who made 66 pitches in the two innings, was replaced to start the third, and things only got worse for Los Angeles. Luke Bard was tagged for five runs in the inning, all five coming in on home runs. Jackie Bradley Jr. and Holt each had a two-run shot, and Betts hit a solo homer for an 8-0 lead.
Ohtani saw his ERA jump from 2.08 to 3.60 after having eight days between starts. He was originally scheduled to start Sunday in Kansas City, but that game was rained out. The Angels were idle Monday.
The Red Sox wound up with 15 hits, including six home runs. Rafael Devers joined Betts, Bradley Jr. and Holt as the Boston players who went deep.
Red Sox starter David Price (2-1) got the win after a leisurely five innings, giving up one run and three hits. He struggled some with his control, walking four, but he also struck out six while making 78 pitches.
The Angels' only run came on an RBI single by Albert Pujols in the third inning. Pujols, though, was ejected after arguing a called third strike that ended the fifth inning. It was his ninth career ejection.
--Field Level Media
