ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels completed a four-game series sweep of the Boston Red Sox, finishing it off with a doubleheader sweep Monday afternoon and evening at Angel Stadium.
After Sunday’s game between the two teams was rained out — the first rainout in Anaheim since June 16, 1995 — the Angels began the day with an 11-1 win, and followed it up with a 7-3 victory in the nightcap.
Albert Pujols stole the show, hitting three home runs, one in the first game and two more in the second. Now the league leader with 29 homers, Pujols went 4-for-7 with the three homers and four RBIs in the two games.
The Angels have won five in a row and 11 of their last 13, as they moved two games ahead of second-place Houston in the American League West.
The Red Sox are going in the opposite direction; they’ve lost six of seven and remain in last place in the AL East, 8 1/2 games behind the Yankees.
The Angels outscored the Red Sox in the series 22-4. Two of Boston’s runs came in the sixth inning of the second game when designated hitter David Ortiz homered off Angels starter Andrew Heaney. Before then, the Red Sox had scored one run in 32 innings against Angels pitching.
Other than giving up the homer, Heaney was outstanding again. He went seven innings, gave up five hits, walked none and struck out four. Since being called up to replace the injured Jered Weaver, Heaney is 4-0 with a 1.57 ERA in four starts.
Boston’s Game 2 starter, knuckleballer Steven Wright (3-3) got the loss after allowing six runs on six hits in three walks in five innings.
The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the second inning of the nightcap on first baseman Pujols’ home run off Wright.
The Angels added to their lead in the third inning, putting together a two-out rally.
Second baseman Johnny Giavotella walked, right fielder Kole Calhoun bunted for a single and center fielder Mike Trout walked to load the bases.
Pujols drove in the first run of the inning with a walk, and shortstop Erick Aybar plated two more with a single to center. Center fielder Daniel Robertson’s infield single drove in the final run of the inning to give the Angels a 5-0 lead.
Trout hit his 28th homer of the year leading off the fifth inning to put the Angels up 6-0.
In the first game, the Angels exploded for seven runs in the second inning and coasted to the 11-1 win.
The Angels scored all seven runs in the span of just eight pitches thrown by Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez (5-3), who didn’t make it out of the inning.
The Angels’ onslaught included a two-run single by second baseman Johnny Giavotella, a two-run homer by right fielder Kole Calhoun and a solo homer by designated hitter Albert Pujols.
Third baseman David Freese hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning.
The outburst was more than enough for Angels starter Hector Santiago, who was making his first start since being named to his first All-Star team. Santiago had to work hard, making 114 pitches in just five-plus innings to get the win and improve to 7-4.
He struck out 10, tying his career high, and they included key strikeouts in the first and fourth innings.
In the first, the Red Sox had runners on first and second with one out, but Santiago struck out designated hitter David Ortiz and left fielder Hanley Ramirez.
In the fourth inning, the Red Sox already had scored one run on first baseman Mike Napoli’s RBI single, and had the bases loaded with one out. But Santiago struck out catcher Ryan Hanigan and center fielder Mookie Betts to escape again.
In all, Santiago gave up one run on eight hits and one walk.
The Angels finished with 11 hits, including two each by Pujols and shortstop Erick Aybar.
NOTES: Monday’s doubleheader was the first at Angel Stadium since Sept. 6, 2003, when the Angels played the Royals twice, including one that was a makeup for a game rained out in Kansas City. The last time the Angels played a doubleheader due to a rainout at Angel Stadium was Aug. 5, 1988. … The Angels called up RHP Cory Rasmus for Game 2 of the doubleheader. By rule, teams are allowed to call up a 26th player for the second game. The Red Sox’s 26th player for Game 2 was scheduled starter RHP Steven Wright. … Red Sox C Blake Swihart was activated from the disabled list, and C Sandy Leon was designated for assignment. Red Sox manager John Farrell cited the need for more offense from the catcher’s spot as the reason for the move.