Tanner Houck threw six scoreless innings and was backed by an offense that hit four home runs in the Boston Red Sox’s 12-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels Sunday afternoon in Anaheim, Calif., as Boston took two of three in the series.
Houck (2-0) followed up his six scoreless innings in his first start of the season against Oakland last week with another impressive performance, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out seven. He has 17 strikeouts with only two walks in 13 scoreless innings in his two starts.
The Red Sox offense had 12 hits in all, including the four that cleared the outfield wall. They hit nine home runs in the series.
Reese McGuire’s three-run homer in the sixth inning essentially put the game out of reach, putting Boston up 7-0. McGuire finished the day with five RBIs.
Tyler O’Neill, who hit two homers on Friday, added his fifth homer of the season, tying the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts for the major league lead. Rafael Devers and David Hamilton also homered for Boston.
The homers by Hamilton, Devers and O’Neill all came in the third inning against Angels starter Chase Silseth (0-1) and were the only hits Silseth allowed in his five innings.
Hamilton’s home run was a bonus for the Red Sox. Called up Saturday to replace injured shortstop Trevor Story, Hamilton is known for his defense. In 15 major league games last season, he hit just .121 (4-for-33). But he went 2-for-4 on Sunday hitting in the No. 9 spot.
The closest the Angels came to scoring against Houck came in the third inning. Anthony Rendon led off with a double and went to third on a groundout by Nolan Schanuel. Mike Trout followed with a walk and stole second.
But with runners on second and third and one out, the Angels couldn’t push across a run. Houck struck out Taylor Ward and got Brandon Drury on a groundout to end the threat.
The Angels’ first run of the game came on a solo homer by Trout — his fourth of the season — in the eighth inning. They added a run in the ninth on a wild pitch.