The Red Sox’ Wade Miley pitched a gem Friday against the Angels, but it wasn’t enough.
In what the Boston Globe called, “arguably the best start of his career,” Miley was perfect into the 6th inning. He left the game after 7.0 innings and 101 pitches, having allowed just one hit to go along with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts, but no runs.
Junichi Tazawa worked a perfect 8th inning and the game continued with no score until Red Sox closer Koji Uehara, with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, allowed a solo, walk-off home run to baseball’s best player, Mike Trout. It was the 3rd such dramatic HR of Trout’s young career, his other two coming last season on May 15 and July 4 against the Rays and Astros, respectively. It was also Trout’s 27th home run of the season, tied for the most in baseball, and the most ever by any Angels’ player through the first 89 games of a season.
For Uehara, it was the 5th time in his career he’s allowed a walk-off HR, the 2nd time this season. The other was April 25th facing the Orioles. Friday’s was the first time in Uehara career he’s allowed a walk-off HR with two outs.
Fewest hits allowed this season
Red Sox pitching had allowed only two Angels hits but took the loss, nonetheless. It was the fewest hits allowed by Red Sox pitching in any game this season. The previous low was 3 hits allowed. Boston was 3-0 in those games.
Friday’s game marked just the 17th time since 1914 that Boston has lost a game after containing an opponent to 2 or fewer total hits. The 1-0 Los Angeles win marked just the 2nd time in club history that the Angels’ lone run came on a walk-off solo home run. The other time was when Joe Rudi did it on April 13, 1978 in a game against the Twins.
For the Red Sox it was the 6th time they have been shut out this season, kept from scoring by the Angels combination of C.J. Wilson and Joe Smith. Wilson, who impressively went 8.0 strong innings, allowed 5 hits and 3 walks but no Boston runs. The Red Sox were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left 7 men on base. This season, only the Indians (7.25) are average more men left on base per game than the Sox (7.20).
The Angels, meanwhile, continue to play good baseball. It was their 7th walk-off win of the season, tying them with the WhiteSox for the most in the American League. Only the Cubs have had more such wins (9) in 2015. The lackluster Red Sox have had 2.
A loss after allowing just two runs is a tough one to swallow, but not quite as bad as the one on April 12, 1992. That’s was the day the Red Sox lost to Indians, 2-1 despite allowing no hits. But that’s a story for another day.