Mike Trout and Albert Pujols hit consecutive RBI doubles, and the Los Angeles Angels extended their AL West lead with a 4-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Monday night.
It was the fifth win in six games for the Angels, who moved a half-game ahead of idle Oakland.
David Ortiz reached base four times with a double, single and two walks for the Red Sox, who have lost three of four after winning four straight.
Angels starter C.J. Wilson (10-8) labored through 5 1-3 innings, giving up one run and five hits with five walks and five strikeouts.
Kevin Jepsen worked the ninth for his first save since Sept. 16, 2012. He struck out Ortiz with two on and none out before allowing a run.
Brandon Workman (1-7) lost his sixth straight start, giving up two runs and six hits in seven innings.
The Angles broke ahead 2-0 on two-out doubles by Trout and Pujols in the third after Kole Calhoun walked.
Brock Holt extended his hitting streak to 12 games with an RBI single, cutting it to 2-1 in the fourth.
Los Angeles added two runs in the eighth when pitcher Junichi Tazawa bobbled a grounder and made a wild throw with the bases loaded. He was charged with two errors on the play.
Boston stranded eight in the first six innings, going 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position. The Red Sox had the bases loaded with one out in the sixth, but Dustin Pedroia bounced into a double play against reliever Mike Morin.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: Manager Mike Scioscia said INF Grant Green, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained lower back, is “close to playing in games.” He’ll likely need a few rehab starts before returning.
Red Sox: Pedroia was back in the lineup after missing Sunday’s game because he was sick. OF-1B Allen Craig (sprained left foot) started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket. C David Ross (plantar fasciitis) is expected to be activated Tuesday.
UP NEXT
RHP Jered Weaver (13-7, 3.66 ERA) goes for the Angels in the second game of the series Tuesday. He took the loss against Boston on Aug. 8, giving up four runs in six innings.
RHP Allen Webster (3-1, 4.79) faces the Angels for the second time in three starts. He earned the win against Weaver recently, holding Los Angeles to two runs in 6 2-3 innings.