ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Rick Porcello pitched a five-hitter for his first complete game since 2014, Xander Bogaerts homered and drove in three runs, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 on Friday night.
Porcello (14-2) struck out three while winning his sixth straight start — also for the first time since 2014 — and eighth consecutive decision. He became the majors’ fourth 14-game winner, joining Baltimore’s Chris Tillman, the Chicago White Sox’s Chris Sale, and Washington’s Stephen Strasburg.
Porcello hasn’t lost since May 17 and he’s pitched five or more innings in 29 straight starts dating back to last Aug. 26.
Jackie Bradley Jr. also homered to help Boston end a four-game losing streak.
Tim Lincecum (3-4) continued to struggle in his comeback attempt, giving up four earned runs and five hits with four walks. He was removed after giving up Bradley’s homer — his 16th — leading off the sixth.
Jhoulys Chacin relieved Lincecum and gave up two earned runs through four innings as the Angels snapped a season-high seven-game home winning streak.
The Angels took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second but after getting one out in the top of the third, Lincecum allowed the next five batters to reach. David Ortiz tied the game with a single to left that scored Bogaerts.
Lincecum then loaded the bases in the fourth and Aaron Hill scored on Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly to give Boston a lead. Bradley’s 16th home run made it 4-2.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: RHP Craig Kimbrel will make a rehab appearance for Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday. He’ll go one inning and the team will check in with him on Sunday to determine the next course of action. Kimbrel was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 9 with a medial meniscus tear in his left knee.
Angels: RHP Garrett Richards will undergo an examination on Wednesday to determine how successful stem cell treatments have been on his torn ulnar collateral ligament. … RHP Nick Tropeano, who has also been shut down for the season with a torn UCL, had a second opinion this week but has not yet determined his course of action.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: LHP Drew Pomeranz will try again for his first win with Boston. Pomeranz is 0-1 with a 7.00 ERA in two starts with the Red Sox and 1-2 with a 4.42 ERA in three appearances against Los Angeles.
Angels: LHP Hector Santiago looks to continue his career-high five-game winning streak. Santiago is 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA in July.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.