Angels 2 - 0 Red Sox
Final
  for this game

Shoemaker, Angels one-hit Red Sox to complete sweep

Aug 22, 2014 - 4:53 AM Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - Matt Shoemaker flirted with a no-hitter and the Angels one-hit the Red Sox, 2-0, to complete a rare sweep in Boston.

After plunking the first batter he faced, Shoemaker (12-4) retired 20 straight before Will Middlebrooks broke up the no-hit bid with a double down the left- field line with two outs in the seventh.

The rookie right-hander wound up pitching 7 2/3 innings, striking out nine and only allowing one hit and one walk. Mike Morin recorded the final out of the eighth and Jason Grilli picked up his first AL save with a perfect ninth.

"I didn't even really know or even think about it until the fifth or sixth," Shoemaker said of the no-hitter.

Kole Calhoun scored a run and knocked in another as the Angels completed their second ever four-game sweep at Fenway Park, the other coming back in 1962.

The AL West leaders head to Oakland for three games this weekend holding a two-game cushion over the second-place Athletics.

Boston has dropped five in a row and did not give Rubby De La Rosa (4-5) much support offensively. De La Rosa struck out eight over 6 2/3 innings and was charged with two runs on eight hits and three walks.

On a day the Angels learned ace Garrett Richards will miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury, Shoemaker provided a bright spot against a Red Sox lineup that was without David Ortiz (soreness) and Mike Napoli (back).

"(He threw) a lot of strikes and a very good split," Red Sox manager John Farrell said of Shoemaker. "He's been very consistent for them."

He worked fast and was given an early lead in the first inning when Josh Hamilton sliced a one-hopper off the Green Monster to knock in Calhoun.

Hamilton was later thrown out at home on a strong throw by Yoenis Cespedes from left field, but the one run was all Shoemaker and his bullpen needed.

Calhoun's sacrifice fly in the seventh accounted for the only other run.

Game Notes

Angels manager Mike Scioscia and first baseman Albert Pujols were both ejected by home plate umpire Andy Fletcher for arguing balls and strikes in the sixth inning. It was the first ejection for Pujols since 2005 ... Howie Kendrick recorded three of the Angels' nine hits ... Cespedes left the game early due to a personal matter ... Angels starters have limited opponents to three earned runs or less in 11 straight outings ... Shoemaker became the first Angels rookie with 12-plus wins since Ervin Santana in 2005 ... Grilli recorded 11 saves for the Pirates this year.






Related News