This one was closer than it should have been. The Red Sox were down 5-0 through five batters and down 6-0 headed into the second inning, but it was against the Angels, who excel at losing in sad ways, so the deficit was never truly safe, even if Richard Fitts had the worst first inning for a Red Sox pitcher in Fenway Park history. The Sox came back to make it 6-5 and looked to have the momentum before the Angels immediately went back up 7-5, which turned to 7-6 on a Ceddanne Rafaela homer in the eighth, but the Sox would get no further. Butts.

Three Studs

Jarren Duran

Merely went 3-5 with 2 doubles to snap out of a slump, using the Green Monster to his advantage. I like that Lou Merloni said on the broadcast that going the other way is the key to slump-breaking, very plainly. It always is!

Hunter Dobbins

Threw five innings of one-run ball at an inning’s notice. Baller.

Ceddanne Rafaela

Went 2-4 and made it close, but no cigars were had, to my knowledge.

Three Duds

Richard Fitts

He gave up a leadoff home run to Zach Neto, after which it was 1-0 after 1 batter.

Richard Fitts

Later in the inning, he gave up a 3-run homer to Mike Trout, after which it was 5-0 after 5 batters.

Richard Fitts

For an encore, he gave up a solo homer to Jo Adell to make it 6-0 after 7 batters.

That’s bad.

Play of the Game

I mean, for us, sure: