We at VAVEL wish you all a wonderful week. Good night, Everyone!
Thank you for staying with us throughout the delay. Next week, the Detroit Tigers travel to Fenway Park to take on the Boston Red Sox at 8:08 p.m. EDT.
10:32 -- Final Word is that the game is postponed. The Red Sox and Angels will play a day-night double-header Monday with Game 1 beginning at 2:00 p.m. local time (5:00 EDT) and Game 2 at 7:00 (10:00 EDT).
10:22 -- Still raining, tarp still on the field. There is no word yet on play, but there is more rain on the way. Still holding.
9:45 -- They are really sticking to that 10:15 evaluation time.
If the game is postponed, there could be a day-night double-header Monday. The Monday forecast does not call for rain, and the two teams already have a night game scheduled.
9:00 p.m. EDT-- Reevaluation will come at 7:15 local time (10:15 EDT). Rain is expected to lighten then return at approximately 9:00 local time, which would hamper any play that does begin, if any.
ESPN's Buster Olney reports that Mike Scioscia said it may rain until 7:15 local time (10:15 EDT).
8:35 -- It is still raining on the field -- no further word yet on game time.
8:31 -- Cubs Braves CHC 4, ATL 1 Arrieta (11-5) Miller (5-6)
8:14 -- Scores from around MLB: Teams, Score, WP, LP --
Mariners Yankees SEA 1, NYY 2 Betances (6-2) Rodney (2-4)
Rays Blue Jays TOR 4, TB 0 Estrada (7-5) Archer (9-7)
Orioles Tigers DET 3, BAL 9 Gonzalez (8-6) Verlander (0-3)
Indians Reds CLE 5, CIN 3 Rzepczynski (2-3) Villarreal (1-3) -- 11 innings
Dodgers Nationals WSH 0, LAD 5 Greinke (9-2) Scherzer (10-8)
Marlins Phillies PHI 8, MIA 7 Neris (1-0) Ramos (0-2)
Royals White Sox KC 4, CWS 1 Duffy (4-4) Sale (8-5)
Pirates Brewers PIT 1, MIL 6 Jungmann (5-1) Locke (5-6)
Rangers Astros TEX 0, HOU 10 Keuchel (12-4) Gallardo (7-9)
Mets Cardinals STL 1, NYM 3 Torres (3-4) Martinez (10-4) -- 18 innings
Twins Athletics OAK 14, MIN 1 Chavez (5-9) Milone (5-2)
Rockies Padres Postponed (Rain)
Giants D-backs SF 2, ARI 1 Bumgarner (10-5) Corbin (1-2)
8:02 -- ESPN announcers say at least 9:00 p.m. EDT before play begins. We will post updates as they become available.
8:00 -- At least 8:30, possibly longer, before play begins. This is the first rain delay in Angels Stadium since 2011.
7:43 -- There WILL be a rain delay -- time unspecified at this point.
7:41 p.m. EDT: Raining in Anaheim, and the tarp is still on the field.
Keys to the game: The Red Sox need a bunch of wins. They have had a poor season, and it does not look like it will improve. There is little weakness in the Angels’ offense, defense, or pitching at this point, so the Red Sox need to play flawless baseball. Rodriguez needs to keep hitters off base ahead of Trout and Pujols, who will do some damage with runners on.
The Angels just need to keep playing the same top-notch baseball they have played during their hot streak that launched them into first place. They have very good offense, defense, and pitching, so avoiding mistakes should lead them to another win and a series sweep.
The Angels’ starting lineup:
1. Johnny Giavotella, 2B
2. Kole Calhoun, RF
3. Mike Trout, CF
4. Albert Pujols, DH
5. Erick Aybar, SS
6. David Freese, 3B
7. C.J. Cron, 1B
8. Chris Iannetta, C
9. Daniel Robertson, LF
The Red Sox’ starting lineup:
1. Mookie Betts, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Xander Bogaerts, SS
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Hanley Ramirez, LF
6. Pablo Sandoval, 3B
7. Mike Napoli, 1B
8. Shane Victorino, RF
9. Ryan Hanigan, C
Angels’ starting pitcher
Hector Santiago (6-4, 2.33) is having his best season so far. He has made 17 starts and one relief appearance, allowing 28 runs (30 earned) in 108 1/3 innings while compiling a WHIP of 1.10. He has stayed consistent all season so far and has averaged 6 1/3 innings per start. In his last outing, Santiago pitched 7 innings, allowing one run on eight hits in defeating the Seattle Mariners on July 10.
Red Sox’ starting pitcher
Eduardo Rodriguez (5-2, 3.59) has shown flashes of brilliance in his rookie season. He has made nine starts so far, allowing 21 earned runs in 52 2/3 innings while compiling a very good 1.14 WHIP. In his last start, he allowed two earned runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings in beating the Yankees on July 11.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox rank 10th with 376 runs scored. Hanley Ramirez is at.268./313/.485, 19 HR, and 46 RBI. David Ortiz still has power (15 HR, 43 RBI), but his .233 average does not help. Dustin Pedroia has just returned from injury after missing more than three weeks.
The Angels are 11th in the American League in runs scored (372), which is surprising considering Trout and Albert Pujols’s contributions. Trout is hitting .307/.399/.611 with 27 HR and 56 RBI. Pujols is at .253/.320/.524, 26 HR, and 56 RBI. Both are MVP candidates with Trout leading the pack.
Boston starters are last in the National League with a 4.68 ERA, and Clay Buchholz will see Dr. James Andrews to determine if he will pitch again this year. The bullpen has also struggled and currently has a 3.86 ERA, 11th in the American League. Koji Uehara has had a little trouble, but he is a solid closer. He is 22 for 24 in save opportunities.
As play began on July 19, The Angels’ starting rotation was third in the American League with a 3.59 ERA. The bullpen ERA is 3.47, sixth in the league. Huston Street is 24 for 27 in save opportunities with a 2.27 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. He is injured now but expected back at any time.
Following this four-game series, which concludes Monday, the Red Sox will travel to face the Houston Astros for three before returning to Fenway Park for a 10-game home stand. Los Angeles hosts the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers for three each before traveling to Houston for would could become a crucial series for both teams.
This four-game wrap-around series began Friday night with the Angels winning Game 1 1-0 in dramatic fashion behind Mike Trout’s walk-off home run. Boston wasted starter Wade Miley's spectacular effort, one he and the team sorely needed. Saturday’s Game 2 saw the Angels’ Cole Calhoun homer twice and Garrett Richards pitch a complete-game shut out on route to a 3-0 win take a 2-0 series lead. Tonight, the Angels look to make it three straight. Los Angeles has won three of five meetings on the season so far, and the two teams will meet again Monday for the season-series finale.
Entering play on July 19, the Angels find themselves beginning to open up a lead in the A.L. West standings as they now sit 1.5 games ahead of the second-place Houston Astros. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are in last place in the A.L. East, 7.5 games behind the division-leaders and their bitter rivals, the New York Yankees.
The Red Sox and Angels square off Sunday night as Eduardo Rodriguez (5-2, 3.59) takes the mound for Boston while the Angels counter with Hector Santiago (6-4, 2.33).
The Boston Red Sox are playing well below expectations after making some major moves during the past offseason, but they still have a little hope as they enter Sunday’s action seven games below the .500 mark at 42-40. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Angels have moved into first place in the A.L. West as they have posted a 50-40 record by winning eight of their last 10.
