Advertisement

Angels starter C.J. Wilson sticks to game plan in 1-0 win over Boston

Angels starter C.J. Wilson pitched eight scoreless innings against the Red Sox on Friday night, giving up five hits and three walks while striking out four.

Angels starter C.J. Wilson pitched eight scoreless innings against the Red Sox on Friday night, giving up five hits and three walks while striking out four.

(Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)
Share via

All C.J. Wilson had to show for one of his best games of the season Friday night was a no-decision, but the Angels left-hander wasn’t complaining, not after Mike Trout gave the Angels a 1-0 win over the Boston Red Sox with his ninth-inning homer.

Wilson shut down a team that had had gone 15-9 since June 16 and was starting to make some noise in the American League East, allowing five hits in eight shutout innings, striking out four and walking three and keeping the Angels even with Red Sox left-hander Wade Miley, who had a no-hitter through six.

“Chris and I established a really good plan before the game, and we just really stuck to it,” Wilson said, referring to catcher Chris Iannetta. “There were very few times I felt like I needed to shake because we were going in divergent directions.

Advertisement

“The biggest thing was being able to throw multiple pitches for strikes. That way I didn’t have to throw fastball after fastball. I had to make the ball move because every guy in their lineup can hit a home run. You have to fool them and trick them and get ground balls and popups.”

Miley retired the first 16 batters before Iannetta broke up his perfect game with a one-out walk in the sixth. Kole Calhoun broke up his no-hitter with a leadoff double to center in the seventh and took third on Trout’s fly to center.

Albert Pujols flied to shallow right, Calhoun holding, and Erick Aybar grounded to shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who ranged to the hole and made a long, off-balance throw to first to end the inning.

Advertisement

Angels reliever Joe Smith threw a scoreless ninth for the win but took a wicked Mike Napoli line drive off his right shin. Manager Mike Scioscia said Smith suffered a bruise and should be available Saturday night.

Trout’s game-winning homer was the Angels’ second hit, marking the first time since June 6, 1998, that the Red Sox lost a game while giving up two or fewer hits.

Extra bases

Advertisement

Keith Johnson, the former triple-A manager who was serving as the team’s roving infield instructor, has replaced Rico Brogna as the team’s player information coach. Brogna was reassigned to a pro scouting role after Jerry Dipoto’s July 1 resignation as general manager. … Closer Huston Street (right groin strain) went through a full bullpen workout Friday, warming up as if he would pitch in a game, and then threw 14 pitches off a mound at full speed. Street, who is one save shy of 300 for his career, will be available to close Saturday night. … The Angels recalled utility man Grant Green from triple-A and optioned reliever Vinnie Pestano to Salt Lake on Friday.

Up next

Right-hander Garrett Richards (9-6, 3.53 ERA) will oppose Boston right-hander Rick Porcello (5-9, 5.90 ERA) at Angel Stadium on Saturday at 6 p.m. TV: FS West; Radio: 830.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

Advertisement