• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Red Sox aim to keep rolling in second test with Angels

Jul 6, 2013 - 3:26 PM (Sports Network) - The scorching Boston Red Sox will try to keep rolling when they face off with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the second contest of a three-game set on Saturday.

In Friday's series opener, the Red Sox took a 6-2 victory. With the scored tied 2-2 in the seventh inning, Boston was able to score a run when Josh Hamilton dropped a fly ball to right field off the bat of Johnny Gomes.

An inning later David Ortiz launched a two-run, pinch-hit home run to right field and Mike Napoli homered in the ninth as the Red Sox pulled away for their fifth straight win and ninth in the last 10 games.

Felix Doubront lasted 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs and struck out five batters as the starter for Boston. Craig Breslow pitched 2/3 scoreless innings after Doubront to pick up the win.

C.J. Wilson was tagged for 10 hits, but allowed just a single earned run in 6 2/3 innings of work for the Angels. However, Hamilton's error as well as one by J.B. Shuck in the second inning allowed two unearned runs to score and saddle Wilson with the loss.

Howie Kendrick launched a solo home run for Los Angeles, but it was one of just six hits by the squad. The Angels have lost two of three games after a seven-game winning streak.

Ryan Dempster has been solid this season for the Red Sox and they will lean on him again Saturday when he starts in Los Angeles.

Dempster doesn't have the most stellar numbers in the Boston rotation but he has been effective. Dempster will also be making his 18th start of the season on Saturday which will tie him with Jon Lester for the team lead.

Last Sunday Dempster was on the hill for the Red Sox against Toronto and he put them in a position to win by allowing just two runs in 5 1/3 innings of work. Though he did not factor in the decision, the Red Sox would go on to win, 5-4.

That outing marked the seventh straight game in which Dempster has held an opponent to three runs or fewer. One of those efforts came against the Angels back on June 9. Dempster earned his fourth win of the season by limiting Los Angeles to three runs in six innings.

Pitching against the Angels has not always ended so well for Dempster, who is 1-2 with a 9.15 ERA in four career starts against them.

Angels hurler Jerome Williams faces off with the Red Sox Saturday.

Williams had pitched in 21 games this season, with 10 of those outings being starts. As a starter, Williams is 4-4 with an ERA of 4.50 while his relief outings have netted him a record of 1-0 and an ERA of 2.60. In all, Williams is 5-4 this season with an ERA of 3.89.

In his last start Williams didn't fare particularly well as he was lit up for seven runs in just 1 2/3 innings of work on Wednesday against St. Louis. The seven runs he allowed were a season-high and the 1 2/3 innings of work were the fewest he has had in a start this season.

Williams' only action against the Red Sox this season came in a relief role. The right-hander allowed three earned runs in as many innings as the Angels went on to lose 7-2. In his career, Williams owns an 8.31 ERA in three total appearances (1 start) against Boston.

Boston has won three of four meetings with the Angels this season after dropping all six matchups a year ago.