Red Sox vs Angels Recap: Boston Wins 5-2 in Holiday Game

The Red Sox rolled into Angel Stadium ready to battle. Los Angeles had lost four straight games and looked hungry for a win. Boston was riding momentum too — they'd won their last game and came in sitting at 38-48 on the season. Jake Bennett took the mound for Boston and immediately set the tone. In the second inning, Jarren Duran stepped up and delivered a sacrifice fly that scored Romy Gonzalez. Just like that, Boston led 1-0. The Angels couldn't answer back. Then in the third, Romy Gonzalez ripped a single to right field. Both Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras came around to score. Boston jumped to 3-0. Duran came through again with another sacrifice bunt, and Caleb Durbin scored. The Red Sox crushed Reid Detmers early, going up 4-0 before the Angels could blink.

Boston wasn't done attacking. In the fifth inning, Caleb Durbin stepped into the batter's box. The Red Sox slugger locked in on a 92 mph fastball from Reid Detmers. Durbin swung hard and connected. The ball rocketed to left field and sailed over the wall — a 358-foot blast that sent the crowd into a quiet shock. Boston led 5-0. The Angels' bats stayed silent through most of the game. Jake Bennett was throwing absolute gas on the mound. He struck out five batters without walking a single one through seven and two-thirds innings. Bennett kept Los Angeles off the board almost the entire way. The Red Sox defense played tight behind him. Boston's pitching was dominant. The Angels couldn't find a rhythm against Boston's pitchers. Everything Boston threw was working perfectly.

Boston's lead held strong into the eighth inning. Then the Angels finally woke up. Jose Siri stepped to the plate against Jake Bennett. He connected on a 91 mph fastball and drove it deep to right-center field. The ball traveled 408 feet and cleared the wall. Siri's solo shot made it 5-1. Los Angeles had life. Zach Neto came up next and singled to right, bringing Josh Lowe around to score. The Angels were on the board at 5-2. Boston brought in closer Aroldis Chapman to shut things down. Chapman fired strikes and got the final outs. The Red Sox held on for the 5-2 victory. Boston improved to 39-48 with the road win. Los Angeles dropped to 36-53. The Red Sox's pitching was just too strong. Bennett's dominant performance set the tone from start to finish.