Bobby Dalbec belted a two-run homer in the seventh inning to propel the host Boston Red Sox to a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.
Dalbec, hitting ninth in the order, homered off Angels reliever Tony Watson (1-1) to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead.
Hunter Renfroe also hit a two-run homer and joined Christian Vazquez with two hits apiece for the Red Sox.
The Red Sox, who have won two in a row, are 2-2 on a six-game homestand. The Boston offense has scored more than four runs just once in the past six games after averaging nine runs over the previous five contests.
The Angels took their third consecutive loss, falling to 1-3 on a six-game road trip.
Los Angeles’ Shohei Ohtani launched his 11th homer of the season to tie Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez for the American League lead.
Boston starter Nick Pivetta was otherwise sharp, allowing two runs and four hits while striking out seven in six-plus innings. Matt Andriese (2-2) yielded one run on two hits in one inning to pick up the win.
Angels starter Griffin Canning also pitched well, giving up two runs and six hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two.
Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes struck out the side in the ninth to secure his ninth of the season.
The Red Sox claimed the lead in the second inning against Canning. Rafael Devers led off with a single but was still standing on first base.
Canning then fell behind in the count 3-1 to Renfroe, who connected on a 94-mph fastball to give Boston a 2-0 lead.
Pivetta held the Angels scoreless on two hits through five innings before Ohtani went the opposite way for a home run over the Green Monster in the sixth.
Pivetta pitched into the seventh inning before exiting after surrendering a leadoff single to Anthony Rendon. Rendon eventually scored on a two-run double by Jose Iglesias off Andriese to give the Angels a 3-2 lead.
–Field Level Media