Boston Red Sox (28–27) pitcher Michael Wacha threw a complete game shutting out the Los Angeles Angels (27–29) for a 1–0 victory at Angel Stadium Monday night, extending the Angels losing streak to 12 games, matching the longest in franchise history in 1988.
In his first season with Boston, nine-year veteran Wacha improved to 4–1, lowering his ERA to 1.99, with his second career complete game for the team’s fifth straight win—edging out six solid innings by Angels’ Noah Syndergaard (4–4, 3.69 ERA),
The right-hander Wacha gave up just three hits with his first shutout in five years, since a three-hit shutout for the St. Louis Cardinals at the New York Mets on July 18, 2017. It was Boston’s first shutout since June 5, 2019 when Chris Sale defeated the Kansas City Royals.
Wacha threw 105 pitches in his 190th start resulting in a second shutout of the Angels this season.
“You’ve got to have confidence in this game to get it done,” said Wacha who hadn’t pitched into the eighth inning since 2018. “I feel like with what my pitches are doing right now, and how it’s playing against certain hitters.”
Wacha’s biggest threat came in the first inning as Angels best hitters, Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, both singled with one out. But first baseman Jared Walsh lined out to center fielder, Franchy Cordero, who completed a double play throwing Ohtani out at second base.
Angels three-time MVP Trout ended his career longest hitting slump of 0–for–26 at bats.
The Angels could only manage another hit on a double from Matt Duffy in the sixth--Ohtani missed the RBI opportunity striking out to end the inning.
“Anytime (Ohtani) steps in the box, you’re on full awareness out there on the mound and you have to make really, really quality pitches to him,” said Wacha.
Boston scored in the top of the second with Alex Verdugo hitting a single to left-center, followed by Christian Vazquez with a single to center, scoring Verdugo following a throwing error by Angels catcher Max Stassi.
“That was fun. It was awesome tonight,” said Vazquez. “A complete-game shutout is very special for everybody. That helps the team and the bullpen guys a lot more. We started the right way this series.”
“Wins like this, Michael was the star, he was amazing for us,” said Boston manager Alex Cora. “But this was a total team effort. A 1–0 game, nine innings, nowadays you don’t see that. I’m just glad that I’m part of it.”
Wacha was on the injured list earlier in the season with leg-side soreness, and the shutout was his fourth start since being activated.
“My last start, things were coming out how I was used to it and just continue to build off those previous starts after coming off the [International League],” added Wacha. “That is what I was more satisfied with. Now continue to build off this one and take some stuff from here and work on it.”
For the Angels, starter Syndergaard allowed five hits and one walk, while striking out three in six innings; Jimmy Herget had two innings of relief followed by Andrew Wantz closing out the game in the ninth.
Trout’s ability to end his hitting slump can only be positive for the Angels ending their losing skid during this seven-game homestand.
“He’s arguably one of the best players, top three, and maybe the best by the end of time,” said Angels manager Joe Maddon of Trout. “Today he was taking [batting practice] at 12:30 against guys we had to bring in to throw to him. That tells you about the motivation.”
The Angels remain in second in the American League West Divisions 8.5 games behind the Houston Astros, following a brief time in first before the losing streak.
The two teams match up again at Tuesday in Anaheim with the Angels yet to announce their starter, versus Boston RHP Garrett Whitlock (2-1, 3.02 ERA).
