There’s no way to sugarcoat it. The Red Sox have played some of their worst baseball of the season, getting swept by the Angels in a tough 4-game series. It was the first time Boston has been swept by the Angels in Anaheim in the history of the matchup, which dates back to 1961.
The Red Sox’ 4 total runs scored was their 5th fewest runs scored in a 4-game series in franchise history. The 1906 club scored fewest ever (2) in 4 games against the St. Louis Browns.
Ominous signs
Dark clouds brought heavy rain to Southern California Sunday night forcing the first rainout at Angels Stadium since June 16, 1995 (for contrast, the Red Sox have had 55 home games postponed since that date, not counting postponements related to the tragic events of September 11, 2001 and the Boston Marathon bombing).
Sunday’s postponement forced a Monday doubleheader. Even with Eduardo Rodríguez on the mound, the Sox’ fate was sealed early when the Angels scored 7 in the bottom of the 2nd inning.
In Game 2, with Steven Wright pitching, Los Angeles again scored in the 2nd inning with 1 run. The Angels tacked on 4 more in the 3rd, all coming with 2 outs.
The Red Sox are now 11-39 when opponents score first this season.
When playing two on the same day, Boston has now swept 496, split 834, and been swept 447 times.
Pujols crushes it
Fresh from the Home Run Derby and with no discernible after effects, Albert Pujols managed 3 home runs on Monday, 1 in the first game and 2 in the second. Game 2 was his third multi-home run game this season. Only the Rockies’ Nolan Arenado has more such games in 2015 (4). Monday’s 3 Pujols home runs made him the current MLB home run leader with 29 so far this season.
Since his first home run in 2001, no MLB player has more multi-home run games than Pujols (11). Before Monday night he had been tied with Alex Rodríguez, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds.
Now it’s on to Houston for 3 with the solid Astros. Angels fans will be cheering for Boston now, as the Astros start this next series just two games behind Anaheim for the Western division lead.