Kikuchi Fans 12 as Angels Sweep Red Sox with 5-2 Victory

Yusei Kikuchi struck out a season-high 12 batters over seven strong innings. At the same time, Jo Adell and Travis d’Arnaud each delivered solo home runs and RBI singles to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, completing a three-game sweep.

Kikuchi (3-6) overcame a rocky start after allowing two unearned runs in the first, which came on a bases-loaded, two-out single by Trevor Story following a fielding error by shortstop Scott Kingery. From there, the 34-year-old left-hander was dominant, giving up only one hit and no walks over the next six innings.

Kikuchi struck out the side in the second and fifth innings and retired the Red Sox in order in the fourth, sixth, and seventh. He scored 20 swinging strikes and threw 74 pitches across his final six frames.

Ryan Zeferjahn pitched two scoreless innings to earn his second save, helping the Angels reach the .500 mark (40-40) for the first time in over a month.

Adell and d’Arnaud tied the game in the fourth inning with back-to-back home runs off Boston starter Richard Fitts. Adell’s 433-foot blast was his 17th of the season and 10th in June.

In the fifth, Boston reliever Luis Guerrero (0-1) issued walks to Nolan Schanuel and Mike Trout, then surrendered two-out RBI singles to Adell and d’Arnaud to give the Angels a 4-2 lead. The Angels added another run in the sixth when Trout singled home Luis Rengifo off reliever Zack Kelly.

Key Moment

After giving up two unearned runs in the first, Kikuchi escaped further damage by getting Ceddanne Rafaela to ground out with two runners in scoring position. He then went on to retire 18 of the next 19 batters.

Key Stat

The Angels have used only five starting pitchers through 80 games this season — Kikuchi, José Soriano, Tyler Anderson, Kyle Hendricks, and Jack Kochanowicz — matching the franchise record set in 1999 for most games to begin a season with just five starters.

Up Next

Angels RHP José Soriano (5-5, 3.39 ERA) will face Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (6-3, 4.18 ERA) in Anaheim on Friday. Meanwhile, the Red Sox return to Boston, where RHP Brayan Bello (3-2, 3.31 ERA) will open a series against Toronto.