The game was effectively settled before the Angels had recorded an out. Willson Contreras launched a three-run homer to left — 421 feet — in the first inning, and Sonny Gray made sure that lead was never in doubt. Boston walked out of Anaheim with an 8-1 victory on Independence Day.
Gray was the story after the offense did its work. The right-hander went six innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 7 on just 70 pitches. He picks up his 10th win against 1 loss, with a 2.61 ERA. It was the kind of start that renders the final score a formality.
Contreras's first-inning blast — with Seigler and Abreu scoring ahead of him — gave Boston a 3-0 lead it never relinquished. The Red Sox added four more in the fifth: Wilyer Abreu doubled to right, scoring Rafaela and Seigler, then Romy Gonzalez followed with a two-run homer to left (368 feet), scoring Abreu to push the lead to 7-1. Ceddanne Rafaela added a run in the eighth with a double to left, scoring Monasterio. Gonzalez finished 1-for-5 with 2 RBI; Abreu went 1-for-3 with 2 RBI and 2 walks.
Sam Aldegheri absorbed the loss for Los Angeles, allowing 3 runs on 1 hit with 4 walks over 4 innings, falling to 3-4 with a 5.08 ERA. The Angels managed just 4 hits on the night. Josh Lowe provided the only bright spot, hitting a solo homer to center (437 feet) in the second inning.
Boston snapped a skid and moved to 38-48. Los Angeles has dropped four straight and sits at 36-53.