BOSTON -- It looked like it would be an easy series sweep for the Angels after scoring four runs in the first and three more in the second inning.
But right-hander José Soriano turned in one of the worst outings of his career, allowing seven runs over just 3 2/3 innings, forcing the offense and the bullpen to carry the load. The Angels nearly pulled it off, but were hurt by critical errors in the seventh and eighth innings that led to a frustrating 11-9 walk-off loss to the Red Sox on Wednesday afternoon in the series finale at Fenway Park.
“It's always tough when you score that amount of runs and don't win the game,” manager Ron Washington said. “But we didn't do much to stop them, like they didn't do much to stop us. Sori just didn't have it today. He stood out there and fought and threw [99] pitches in less than four innings. So they worked him and he just couldn't find his command today.”
The Angels were aiming for their first series sweep in Boston since 2014 but couldn’t hold that early cushion and two late one-run leads. It was the defense that let them down late with left-handed pitching prospect Sam Aldegheri forced into long relief in his season debut because Soriano couldn’t get deep into the game.
Aldegheri, the club’s No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was hurt by an error from fellow prospect Matthew Lugo in the seventh. Lugo, who replaced Jorge Soler in right field in the third inning after Soler dealt with groin tightness, misplayed a single from Romy Gonzalez with Carlos Narváez at first, allowing both runners to move up. It led to a game-tying sacrifice fly from Abraham Toro.
And in the eighth, Aldegheri got Trevor Story to hit a grounder to third, but it was booted by Kevin Newman for an error. Aldegheri was removed after striking out Kristian Campbell, but fellow lefty Brock Burke allowed a game-tying single to Rafael Devers after he walked Jarren Duran.
Aldegheri was charged with two unearned runs in 2 1/3 innings and is expected to be sent back to Double-A Rocket City to continue to develop as a starter.
“They cost us at the wrong time,” Washington said. “We were playing a real good game to that point. And then we just made some mistakes and it ended up costing us. Got to move on.”
After the Angels couldn’t score in the top of the ninth, Burke gave up a walk-off, two-run homer to Ceddanne Rafaela that just stayed fair inside Pesky’s Pole in right field. It went just a Statcast-projected 308 feet, but it was enough to send the Angels home with a disheartening loss.
“That's why they call it Pesky’s Pole,” Washington said. “That was very pesky. I mean, he hit that ball perfect. That’s the way baseball goes.”
The Red Sox offense was particularly pesky against Soriano, who struggled with his command and allowed eight hits and walked three. The Angels were counting on him to deliver some length because of their depleted bullpen and he couldn’t deliver.
“It was one of those days,” Soriano said through interpreter Manny Del Campo. “I couldn’t control my pitches. It was tough. Everything felt all right, but it was just a tough day.”
But the Angels did show some encouraging signs, especially on the offensive side. They stayed hot, as they scored four times in the opening frame against veteran right-hander Lucas Giolito, three more times in the second and again in the fifth before retaking the lead with a run in the eighth.
The top of the lineup led the charge with Zach Neto, Nolan Schanuel, Mike Trout and Taylor Ward combining for six hits, six runs and seven RBIs. Ward launched a three-run homer in the first and also added a sacrifice fly in the second.
But it was the bottom of the lineup that came through late with Chris Taylor doubling and scoring on an RBI single from Newman in the eighth. It wasn’t enough, however, in a wild one but Washington said he believes good things will come if they keep hitting like they did during their three-game series at Fenway Park. They scored a combined 20 runs after they had scored a combined 16 runs over their previous eight games heading into the series.
“I’m very encouraged,” Washington said. “If we keep swinging the bats like that and put runs on the board, everything's gonna work out. We didn’t quit today either.”