Shoemaker takes no-hitter into seventh; Angels sweep away Red Sox 2-0
By Rick McNair
Angels Rookie Matt Shoemaker flirted with a no-hitter while shutting down the Boston bats. Meanwhile, his offense managed to touch Boston’s Rubby De La Rosa for two runs en route to a 2-0 victory for the Halos.
For the Angels of Los Angeles-Anaheim-California, the contest actually took on some degree of significance as they attempted to solidify their AL West lead, while Boston continues to count the days remaining on an inglorious 2014.
The Angels wasted no time getting to Red Sox starter De La Rosa as a Josh Hamilton double drove in Kole Calhoun, who had singled. Yoenis Cespedes eventually nailed Hamilton at home as he attempted to score on a single, thus limiting the damage to one run in the top of the first.
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In the second inning, De La Rosa got into a self-induced jam allowing a base hit followed by two walks. With one gone, Rubby struck out Calhoun and Mike Trout to douse the potential threat.
After that, De La Rosa settled down and tossed blanks until an ominous seventh inning.
With one gone and Angels on first and third, up stepped Calhoun, who appeared at the center of everything this series, and promptly brought in a second run for the Angels with a sac fly. That was the evening for De La Rosa (4-5) who stepped away with an impressive 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.
Meanwhile Shoemaker had allowed no hits through six innings allowing only one runner – a hit by pitch to Brock Holt at the start of the contest. Focus now was riveted on a hitless game.
In the seventh for Boston, Dustin Pedroia grounded out and was followed by a Daniel Nava strikeout. Will Middlebrooks then shot a no doubt double to left and the potential no-hitter vanished.
Shoemaker (12-4) was done after 7.2 innings allowing no runs, a lone hit, one walk and nine strikeouts.
Another game in which the Boston offense limped along with all the excitement of standing in a checkout line at Wal-Mart.
The Red Sox will open up a three game series against Seattle with the hitting pleasure of facing Felix Hernandez (13-4, 1.99), while the Red Sox will counter with Joe Kelly (2-3, 4.67), fresh off a seven run beatdown inspired by Xander Bogaerts.