G4: Angels 6, Red Sox 3

Red Sox - 001 000 020 - 3  7  0
Angels  - 030 000 30x - 6 10  2

It was a poor night from start to finish.

In the first, Wakefield got the first two outs on only seven pitches. He then loaded the bases on two walks and a HBP, but escaped trouble. In the second, he was in hot water right away. A walk, single, fielder's choice, double and single = a 3-0 LAA lead.

Boston did not have many chances against the Bronx Bonger's brother (6.2-4-1-0-2-8, 101). They had two on with one out in the second, but came up empty. In the third, Jacoby Ellsbury singled with one out, stole second, took third on catcher Jeff Mathis's throwing error, and scored on David Ortiz's sac fly.

Including Ortiz's fly out, Weaver set down 12 of his final 14 batters; no one reached second base until the eighth inning.

At that point, though, Boston trailed 6-1. Justin Masterson took over in the seventh, his third appearance in four days (which also included a cross-country flight). He was not sharp. Bobby Abreu singled and stole second, Vlad Guerrero reached on an infield single, Torii Hunter hit a sac fly, Kendry Morales doubled to right, Gary Matthews was walked intentionally, and Mathis singled in two runs.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Ellsbury singled and Pedroia doubled. Ortiz fanned and Kevin Youkilis reached on an infield single. That hit and Chone Figgins's throwing error scored LBJ and FY, but the Sox bats could do no more.

At 1-3, the Red Sox are now sitting in the dank AL East basement.

***

Tim Wakefield (2008: 4.13, 112 ERA+; Spring 2009: 15 IP, 5.40 ERA) / Jered Weaver (2008: 4.33, 103 ERA+; Spring 2009: 17.1 IP, 5.71 ERA)

Weaver suffered shoulder stiffness and a back strain this spring, but LA manager Mike Scioscia says he's ready to go.

He got up to the mid-90s [last weekend] and got up and down seven times. He should be able to get to 100 pitches easily.

George Kottaras makes his 2009 debut tonight.

Three Game Hitting Stats

Red Sox Batters     24 for 101   .238
  
Kevin Youkilis       8 for  12   .667
Everybody Else      16 for  89   .180

The Angels will have a moment of silence before the game for rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart, who was killed, along with two other people, in a car accident just after midnight on Thursday morning.