Angels lose to Red Sox on Yoenis Cespedes’ three-run homer in 8th

KEY MOMENT: With two on in the eighth inning of a scoreless tie, Angels reliever Joe Smith hung a slider that Yoenis Cespedes crushed for a three-run homer to left field. That ended a string of 23 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings for Smith, but it wasn’t all that surprising. Cespedes, the former Oakland outfielder, is five for 10 against Smith and has driven in five of the 14 runs Smith has given up this season. “Every time I miss,” Smith said, “he’s on it.” Smith will have to change his patterns to Cespedes, who had an idea what was coming. “I’ve faced Smith for a long time and he’s been starting me off with a sinker, and then he follows it up with a slider,” Cespedes said. “When I saw the first sinker, I knew he was going to come with the slider, and I was able to capitalize on it.”

AT THE PLATE: Mike Trout hit a solo homer to left, his 27th of the season, in the eighth inning, but in 23 games since the All-Star break, the Angels are batting an American League-low .223 and averaging 3.17 runs a game. They are three for 39 (.077) with runners in scoring position in the last six games. Howie Kendrick grounded into a double play with the bases loaded to end the first, and the Angels failed to score after putting runners on first and third with no outs in the fourth.

ON THE MOUND: Angels left-hander Hector Santiago gave up two hits over six scoreless innings, striking out five and walking three. Red Sox right-hander Rubby De La Rosa (4-4) allowed one run and five hits in seven innings, striking out eight and walking three. Koji Uehara picked up his 25th save.

ROSTER MOVES: The Angels bolstered the pitching staff in the wake of Saturday’s 19-inning game, recalling relievers Vinnie Pestano and Caleb Clay from triple-A and optioning reliever Cam Bedrosian and first baseman C.J. Cron to Salt Lake. Pestano, who struck out three of four batters in the ninth Sunday, was acquired from Cleveland last week. Clay pitched in South Korea this year.

EXTRA BASES: The Angels remained four games behind Oakland in the AL West, but their wild-card lead over Kansas City has shrunk to 4 1/2 games. … Pestano was the 30th pitcher the Angels have used this season, breaking the franchise record of 29 pitchers in 1996.

UP NEXT: The Angels are off on Monday. Left-hander C.J. Wilson (8-8, 4.83 ERA) will oppose Philadelphia right-hander Jerome Williams (2-5, 6.71 ERA) at Angel Stadium on Tuesday at 7 p.m. On the air: TV: FS West. Radio: 830.