BOSTON — The Angels did just enough to win.
Taking advantage of an error in the top of the 10th inning, the Angels beat the Boston Red Sox, 4-3, on Tuesday night, winning a series for the first time since their eight-game winning streak ended two weeks ago.
The Angels took an early three-run lead, but the Red Sox tied and sent it into extra innings.
In the 10th, Nolan Schanuel started the inning by dropping down a bunt, and Red Sox pitcher Zack Kelly mishandled it, for an error. The extra out was the crack in the door the Angels needed to get home their automatic runner, which they did when Taylor Ward grounded into a double play.
In the bottom of the inning, Reid Detmers struck out two and retired all three hitters he faced, recording the first save of his career. Nolan Ryan, Mike Witt and Detmers are the only Angels pitchers to have a no-hitter and a save.
The Angels (28-32) took the first two of the three-game series in Boston. Between the end of their wining streak and their arrival at Fenway Park, the Angels lost seven out of eight games.
The Angels jumped in front with a three-run third inning.
Jo Adell was hit by a pitch and then stole second. Chris Taylor drew a walk.
Zach Neto punched a single up the middle, and Adell scored. When center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela’s throw sailed over the head of catcher Connor Wong, the two runners each moved up 90 feet. That drew in the Boston infield, and then Nolan Schanuel hit a soft grounder through the left side, driving in two runs.
The Angels came up empty on good chances to add to the lead over the next few innings. They put the leadoff man aboard in the fourth, fifth and sixth. In the fifth, they had two on with no outs and the middle of the order due. Mike Trout grounded out. Taylor Ward and Jorge Soler struck out.
Although the Angels staked Yusei Kikuchi to a 3-0 lead, he couldn’t hold it. Kikuchi left in a 3-3 game in the sixth.
While Kikuchi has been effective this season, according to his 3.23 ERA, he has not been efficient. His inability to get deep in games is largely because he has issued too many walks and been unable to put hitters away with strikeouts.
Pitching coach Barry Enright believed the Angels might have figured out the answer last week. Enright said they realized Kikuchi had changed the grip on his fastball and slider.
That apparently didn’t make a difference, because Kikuchi’s outing on Tuesday was very similar to many of his other games this season.
Kikuchi gave up three runs in five innings, walking five and striking out five. He allowed eight hits, including a two-run homer to Rafaela on a 3-and-0 pitch. Kikuchi was spared another run because of a nice throw from Neto to nail a runner at the plate in the second.
More to come on this story.
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