Red Sox 6 - 2 Angels
Final
  for this game

Wilson seeks fifth straight win in Angels' opener with BoSox

Jul 5, 2013 - 2:41 PM (Sports Network) - C.J. Wilson takes aim at a fifth straight winning start on Friday night, but it will be no easy task as his Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim host the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a three-game series between streaking clubs.

Wilson has not lost since a 7-2 defeat in Boston on June 8. He was charged with four runs -- three earned -- over five innings in that outing, falling to 5-2 with three saves and a 2.85 earned run average in 20 career meetings with the Red Sox, including eight starts.

The left-hander has allowed just five earned runs in four victories since and won in Houston on Sunday. Wilson yielded just one unearned run while striking out 10 over seven innings and scattering three hits and three walks.

The 32-year-old Wilson is 8-5 on the season with a 3.63 ERA in 17 starts.

The Angels have won eight of their past nine games and pulled off a shocking rally to win Thursday's rubber match of a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals by a 6-5 margin.

Albert Pujols got the rally started against his former club with his first hit in the series and only third in his last 31 at-bats, a single to begin the ninth inning. Josh Hamilton followed with a two-run homer to tie the game.

"It was really exciting and any time you can contribute in late innings it's something special," said Hamilton, who has a hit in nine straight games. "I've been seeing the ball a lot better these past few weeks."

Howie Kendrick and Mark Trumbo then hit singles to put the winning run at third, but Alberto Callaspo and Hank Conger each hit shallow fly outs. Erick Aybar, though, punched a single to left and Kendrick came home for the win.

Mike Trout drove in a pair of runs and Trumbo hit a solo home run for the Angels.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, head to Anaheim to begin a 10-game road trip and do so having gone 8-1 on their recent homestand. That allowed them to carry a 4 1/2- game lead for first place in the AL West with them on the trip.

Boston concluded its residency with a three-game sweep of San Diego, taking Thursday's meeting 8-2. Allen Webster pitched six solid innings to earn his first career victory.

Webster allowed two runs on five hits and four walks. The 23-year-old righty was one of five players traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Red Sox last August in exchange for Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, Nick Punto and cash.

"I think at each passing start here at this level he starts to get his feet underneath him," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Clearly he's a work in progress, but I thought today he made a couple of big pitches when he had to."

Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz had two RBI apiece while Brandon Snyder and Jacoby Ellsbury hit solo home runs for the Red Sox. Ellsbury is on a 14-game hitting streak

Felix Doubront takes the hill for the Red Sox having pitched to a 2.75 ERA in June. However, he has not won since June 1, going 0-1 in his last five appearances.

The 25-year-old southpaw did not factor into a 6-2 loss to Toronto last Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks over 6 1/3 innings.

Doubront is 4-3 with a 4.22 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) this season and made his first career start versus the Angels on June 8. He took a 9-5 loss after giving up three runs over six innings.

The Red Sox took two of three in that series after losing all six meetings with the Angels a season ago.






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