Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) – John Lackey returned to his former stomping grounds and pitched 7 1/3 quality innings to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 4-2 win over the Angels in the middle installment of a three-game series.
Lackey (10-5), who pitched for the Angels for his entire eight-year career before inking a free agent contract with Boston in the offseason, allowed two runs on seven hits for the Red Sox, who have won two straight games and four of six overall. Jed Lowrie hit a two-run double and Adrian Beltre added a key RBI in the victory.
Josh Beckett is scheduled to make his second start following a lengthy stint on the disabled list in Wednesday’s series finale, when the Sox will attempt to sweep the Angels for the second time this season.
Bobby Abreu hit a solo home run and finished with two RBI for the struggling Angels, who have dropped three straight and six of their last seven games.
Jered Weaver (9-7) started on the hill for Los Angeles and was very strong through six scoreless innings, but suffered the loss after he exited after seven full frames and ended with a line which showed two runs allowed on six hits with eight strikeouts.