 has won seven consecutive decisions, but struggled throughout his latest effort, needing 119 pitches to get through five innings. He gave up only four hits, but walked and struck out six. Drew Pomeranz (8-9) gave up five runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He is now 0-2 with a 7.54 ERA in three starts for Boston. The Red Sox got a leadoff home run from Mookie Betts and added a second run in the first on Hanley Ramirez's RBI single, but couldn't score again. Four relievers held Boston scoreless over the final four innings, with Houston Street earning his ninth save. Jefry Marte had a run-scoring grounder in the bottom of the first to get Los Angeles on the scoreboard. Pujols lined his two-run homer off Pomeranz in the third to give the Angels the lead. Pujols has 20 RBI in his last 13 games, 30 for the month of July and 80 on the season. Johnny Giovatella had an RBI single in the fourth, and Jeff Bandy added an RBI double in the sixth to cap the scoring for Los Angeles. TRAINER'S ROOMRed Sox: RHP Craig Kimbrel threw 17 pitches in his first rehab appearance. Kimbrel (surgery for torn left knee cartilage) started the game for triple-A Pawtucket, recording one out while hitting a batter and allowing one hit. Manager John Farrell it was uncertain what Kimbrell's next step would be, but said he could join the team when it opens a four-game series in Seattle Tuesday. Angels: C. J. Cron may be on the verge of a remarkable recovery from his fractured left hand. Cron injured the hand on July 9 and it was originally expected he would be out six-to-eight weeks. But manager Mike Scioscia said Cron could return within two weeks. He is scheduled to be examined Tuesday and could be cleared to start swinging a bat. UP NEXTRed Sox: RHP Steven Wright (12-5) will try to bounce back from his worst start of the season when he gave up eight earned runs in 4 2/3 innings Tuesday against Detroit. In his last six starts, he has a 6.89 ERA but has gone 4-1. Angels: LHP Tyler Skaggs will try to duplicate his first start of the season. Skaggs, returning from Tommy John surgery, threw seven scoreless innings Tuesday, holding the Royals to only three hits in his first start since July 31, 2014.
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Time: 09:05 P.M. EST Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Having pitched for the American League West rival Oakland A's, Drew Pomeranz is no stranger to the Los Angeles Angels. But the Pomeranz the Angels will face on Saturday will be a different Pomeranz than they're used to. And it isn't because Pomeranz now pitches for the Boston Red Sox. Pomeranz, who was traded from Oakland to San Diego during the offseason, developed a much-needed third pitch that propelled him into the Padres' starting rotation and eventually to the National League All-Star team before he was traded to Boston on July 14. He was 8-7 with a 2.47 ERA in 17 starts for the Padres, and a significant part of his success can be attributed to the cutter he learned just before the start of spring training. While learning a new pitch is not all that unusual, what was unusual was who Pomeranz learned that pitch from. Pomeranz was working out a couple weeks before spring training, playing catch with minor league catcher Travis Higgs, when Pomeranz noticed how Higgs' ball would move." I noticed his ball would cut, so I asked him about it," Pomeranz told The Huffington Post. "He showed me how to throw it. At first, maybe one out of 10 (of his pitches) would cut. I kept doing it every day, and guys were missing it. No one was squaring it up, so I was like, 'I guess this thing works.'"It has been a good pitch to complement his exceptional curveball and a 92-mph fastball. Pomeranz, though, is 0-1 with a 7.00 ERA in two starts for Boston, and will go up against one of the hottest pitchers in baseball. Angels starter Hector Santiago hasn't lost a decision since June 10, winning six consecutive decisions and five straight starts. He is 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA in July, and is 9-4 with a 4.28 ERA overall in 21 starts. And he is doing it despite rumors he could be traded before the non-waiver trading deadline Aug. 1." Honestly, I have no control over that," Santiago told the Orange County Register. "I can't come in and tell them to trade me or not trade me. I just try to come in and have fun and be happy every day. If this is my last game here I just enjoy it and have fun with the guys and see what happens from there." Santiago is 2-3 with a 2.97 ERA in seven career games (six starts) against Boston. His last start against the Red Sox came July 2 at Fenway, and Santiago earned the win after giving up just one unearned run and four hits in six innings. Santiago has had success against most of the Red Sox's top hitters, holding David Ortiz to a .214 average and Mookie Betts to .222. However, Xander Bogaerts has had Santiago's number, hitting .556 (5 for 9) against him.
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