ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Chris Sale pitched six scoreless innings and the Boston Red Sox rode a five-run first inning to a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.
Sale (12-4) allowed four hits and struck out nine to push his major league-leading total to 200. He walked one and lowered his American League-best ERA to 2.48.
He has won 11 of his last 13 decisions.
Sale improved to 6-0 against the Angels with a 1.23 ERA in seven starts (nine games).
Boston jumped on erratic Angels starter Ricky Nolasco (4-11) in the first, with six of its first seven batters collecting a hit. Nolasco went four innings and allowed all six runs on nine hits and a walk.
The Angels avoided a shutout when Martin Maldonado hit a solo home run off reliever Kyle Martin in the seventh.
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