Final score in Boston: Angels 2, Red Sox 0
On the day when the club found out one of the most important pitchers in the Angels starting rotation will be lost for 6 to 9 months, Matt Shoemaker showed the type of players this first-place team is made of. Using pinpoint control of his fastball and slider over 7.2 innings Thursday night, Shoemaker took a no-hitter into the 7th inning before giving up a two-out double to Will Middlebrooks. The rookie right-hander gave up one hit, while striking out nine and issuing just one walk, improving his record to 12-4. Jason Grilli pitched a perfect ninth to earn his first Angels save. It appears Grilli was in for the save in order to give the Street and Smith combo a day of rest before heading to Oakland.
The 2-0 Halo win was the first four-game sweep of the Red Sox in Boston in over 50 years, and increases their West division lead to 2 games over the idle Oakland A's.
Angels' lead-off hitter Kole Calhoun opened the game with a single to center, and two batters later, was doubled home by the suddenly capable Josh Hamilton. The Angels added another run in the Calhoun drove in Erick Aybar with a sac fly to left field. Although the first inning run was all Shoemaker, Morin, and Grilli would need on the night, the Angels once again squandered more scoring opportunities. After a single by Aybar and walks to Chris Iannetta and Colin Cowgill, Calhoun and Mike Trout struck out to end the Halo threat. The club left a total of 10 men on base, and went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
The first-place Angels will now fly across the country tonight to face the A's in a 3-game set in Oakland starting tomorrow night.