Sox throw away gem
Hanley’s error wastes stellar Price start
ANAHEIM, Calif. — It took 100 games before Hanley Ramirez’ defense lost the Red Sox a game.
In the most devastating of endings, after David Price had thrown eight shutout innings and turned a lead to closer Brad Ziegler, the Angels loaded the bases with one out in the ninth.
The Red Sox brought the infield in. Ziegler induced a weak grounder from Daniel Nava that rolled softly into Ramirez’ glove at first base.
But the throw was high and wide, sailing over Sandy Leon’s outstretched glove. The Angels kept on running, sending two runs home in a walkoff fielder’s choice as the Red Sox lost, 2-1.
Ramirez couldn’t bare to watch the reaction, turning around and walking slowly off the field before the Angels began celebrating.
The hosts had done little all night, mustering nothing but seven singles and a walk off Price, who was as sharp as he’s been all season.
Ziegler had been as sure as taxes for the first six innings of his Red Sox career, allowing just a single hit. But he served up the decisive home run to Miguel Cabrera in a 4-3 loss to the Tigers on Wednesday, and did not look effective last night.
Mike Trout reached on an infield high chopper to start the ninth when Travis Shaw, forced to make a quick throw because of Trout’s speed, muffed it in the dirt and Ramirez couldn’t scoop it, though Trout appeared to beat the throw. Albert Pujols followed with a single to left. The Angels tried bunting the runners over but Carlos Perez struck out.
Ziegler then allowed another single to Andrelton Simmons to load the bases. Trout was stopped rounding third as the Angels showed respect for Jackie Bradley Jr.’s arm in center field.
Nava pinch-hit for Jett Bandy and Ziegler got just what he needed, a weak grounder to Ramirez at first. He had made just three errors at first all season, but his fourth one was ugly and it cost the Sox last night.
“I rushed that throw. . . . I have to be better than that,” Ramirez said.
Entering last night, no team had scored more runs per game since the All-Star break than the Angels, who were tied with the Red Sox with an MLB-best 5.83 runs per game over that span.
In eight dominant innings, Price kept the hosts scoreless on 109 pitches, 74 for strikes. The Angels produced only seven hits against him, none of which went for extra bases. Former MVP winners Trout and Pujols combined to go 1-for-6 off him.
With any sign of trouble, Price only seemed to get sharper, inducing double plays to scrap scoring attempts in the second and third inning.
Price was on his game, though not perfect, and a one-out walk to put runners on first and second in the fifth inning could’ve been devastating. Jefry Marte unadvisedly tried to steal third and was thrown out by Leon, a costly play for the Angels since they strung together two straight singles later in the inning. With bases loaded and two outs, Price induced a chopper to shortstop from Yunel Escobar and that was that.
The Red Sox produced almost as little on the offensive side, but they did push their only run across in the third inning. Leon and Brock Holt hit back-toback singles before Mookie Betts lifted a fly ball deep enough to score Leon from third base.