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Red Sox collapse in 9th, lose to Angels in 11

Jul 7, 2013 - 7:15 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Josh Hamilton crushed a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning as the LA Angels of Anaheim rallied past the Boston Red Sox, 9-7, Saturday in the middle test of a three-game set from Angel Stadium.

The Red Sox seemed poised for their sixth straight victory as they carried a 7-3 cushion into bottom of the ninth, but Alex Wilson and Koji Uehara combined to give up four runs in the frame to force extra innings.

After neither team managed much in the 10th, Dane De La Rosa (4-1) retired the Red Sox in order in the top of the 11th before Brad Hawpe scorched a one-out single in the home half.

Hamilton then launched the first pitch he saw from Boston reliever Craig Breslow (2-2) deep into the seats in right-center field to send the Halos to victory.

"It was a heater in," Hamilton said of the pitch from Breslow. "It was almost like catching the ball and putting it on the bat. It felt good."

Hamilton added a run-scoring single in LA's four-run ninth, with Albert Pujols plating a pair of runs during the rally to help the Angels notch their ninth win in their last 11 games.

Daniel Nava went 4-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Jarrod Saltalamacchia knocked in two runs and scored once for the Red Sox, who had their five-game win streak snapped in heartbreaking fashion.

"On our part, this was a tough game to lose," Red Sox manager John Farrell admitted. "Our guys will put this one past us and get ready to win this series Sunday."

With the Red Sox holding a four-run cushion, Wilson took the mound to start the home half of the ninth and quickly retired a pair of hitters around a Chris Iannetta single to leave the Angels down to their final out.

J.B. Shuck kept the game alive with a single to center before Wilson plunked Mike Trout to spell the end of his outing, as Uehara entered from the bullpen.

Facing a 2-2 count, Pujols fouled off a pair of pitches before punching a single into left-center field to score Iannetta and Shuck.

Hamilton followed with a single to right to plate Trout and bring the Halos within one before Howie Kendrick chopped a grounder toward third base.

Brandon Snyder fielded the ball cleanly, but his throw to second floated over the head of second baseman Dustin Pedroia, allowing pinch-runner Collin Cowgill to cross the plate and tie the game.

Hamilton made his way to third on the play, but Uehara fanned Mark Trumbo to send the game to extra innings.

Jacoby Ellsbury got the Red Sox going early on, as he stroked Jerome Williams' second pitch of the game into right for a single to extend his hitting streak to 16 games.

Ellsbury moved to second on David Ortiz's two-out infield single before swiping third with Mike Napoli at the plate. Iannetta tried to nab Ellsbury trying to steal, but his throw sailed into left and Ellsbury scored for a 1-0 lead.

Brock Holt's sacrifice fly in the second doubled Boston's edge, but Kendrick led off the bottom half with a home run to straightaway center field.

Erick Aybar then beat out a bunt single and moved to second when Boston starter Ryan Dempster's toss to first was off the mark. Iannetta plated Aybar with a single to center to make it 2-2.

Trout, fresh off being named one of the AL's starting outfielders in the All- Star Game, led off the third with a towering blast to left to put the Halos in front, but the Red Sox responded with three runs in the fourth to seize control.

Napoli worked a leadoff walk and Nava followed with a double to left before Saltalamacchia followed suit with a two-bagger of his own to left that plated both runners and gave the Red Sox a 4-3 edge.

After Holt reached on a fielder's choice, Jose Iglesias scorched a single through the left side of the infield to score Saltalamacchia for a 5-3 lead.

Boston added a run in the sixth when Shane Victorino ripped a one-out triple and scored on Pedroia's line-drive single to left center.

The Red Sox tacked on another run in the eighth when Pedroia smacked a leadoff single and scored from first on Nava's two-out double to right to push the margin to 7-3.

Game Notes

Holt was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket prior to the game, while infielder Jonathan Diaz was optioned to Pawtucket ... Boston reliever Andrew Miller threw just five pitches in the seventh before leaving with an ankle injury ... Ellsbury stole two bases and leads the league with 36 steals ... Pedroia, Ortiz and pitcher Clay Buchholz were named to the All-Star Game for Boston ... Trout was the only Angel named to the AL team ... Seven of Los Angeles' last 10 wins have been in comeback fashion ... Dempster allowed three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits over 6 1/3 frames ... Williams was tagged for five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits over three-plus innings.