Adley Rutschman hits a 3-run homer to lift Red Sox to 5th straight win
Red Sox Roll Past Angels, Keep Momentum on Wild‑Card Run
Boston, MA – In a decisive win at Fenway Park on Monday, the Boston Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Angels 5‑2 to notch their fifth consecutive victory and maintain a league‑best 34‑17 record since the All‑Star break. The win keeps the Sox just two games behind the New York Yankees for the American League’s top wild‑card spot, though the Yankees hold the tiebreaker by virtue of the season series.
The game opened with a burst of power from the Red Sox. Second‑inning pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (4‑7) surrendered a solo homer to Jarren Duran, the 20‑time slugger, that set the tone. Duran’s blast was followed moments later by a three‑run homer from catcher Adley Rutschman, who lobbied the ball over the Pesky Pole to make it 4‑0. The early outburst proved crucial, as Boston never fell behind again.
In the third inning, Eli White added a run with an RBI single, extending the lead to 5‑0. The Angels rallied slightly in the fourth, with outfielder Moisés Ballesteros hitting a solo homer for Los Angeles, but the Sox held on for the shut‑out.
Brayan Bello, who had been sent to Triple‑A after a career‑high eight runs allowed in June, returned to the starting rotation for a scoreless five‑inning stint. The 27‑year‑old worked around a high pitch count, striking out seven and allowing only four hits. He was the only Red Sox pitcher to keep the Angels scoreless in the game, helping the team secure the win.
“Bello was great in the first five innings, and he kept the Angels off the board,” said interim manager Chad Tracy, who opted to start every pitcher in the rotation.
The victory is part of a broader winning streak that has seen Boston finish the season with an impressive stretch. After sweeping a three‑game series against the Angels in Anaheim earlier in July, the Red Sox have now won five straight games, keeping their playoff aspirations alive.
For the Angels, the loss extended a 12‑of‑14 losing streak, keeping them at the bottom of the AL West. Grayson Rodriguez, who had been solid in his last seven starts, was forced to exit after allowing five runs over four innings.
Looking ahead, the Angels will send left‑hander Reid Detmers (4‑8, 3.44 ERA) to the mound against Boston’s Patrick Sandoval (1‑4, 4.41) in the second game of the series. The Red Sox will rely on a bullpen that has been performing well, with Garrett Whitlock closing the game in his third save of the season.
As the Sox continue their strong finish, their position in the race for the wild‑card spot remains a key storyline, with the Yankees a step ahead but both teams battling to keep their momentum. The next game will be a test of whether Boston can sustain their early‑season surge and close the gap with New York.
