- Angles blow four separate leads despite 14 combined runs from starters
- Rafaela's 308-foot Pesky Pole homer seals first career walk-off
- Red Sox bullpen strands Trout in ninth to set up dramatic finish
The Boston Red Sox authored their most improbable victory of the season Wednesday, erasing four separate deficits before Ceddanne Rafaela's walk-off home run secured an 11-9 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Fenway Park's unique dimensions proved decisive when Rafaela curled a 308-foot liner around the right-field foul pole - the shortest possible homer trajectory in MLB.
Early pitching struggles set the tone as starters Lucas Giolito and José Soriano combined to surrender 14 runs in just 5.1 innings. The Angels' Taylor Ward drove in four runs, but Los Angeles' bullpen collapsed late for the second straight game. Boston's resilience highlighted a critical trend: The Red Sox now lead MLB with 18 comeback wins in games where they trailed by 3+ runs.
Three crucial factors shaped the outcome:
- Fenway's 37-foot right-field wall turned potential flyouts into game-changing hits
- Angles relievers issued 5 walks compared to Boston's 2
- Red Sox hitters went 7-for-14 with runners in scoring position
Regional impact analysis reveals Boston's 22-11 home record now ties them with the Yankees atop the AL East. Meanwhile, the Angels continue struggling in close games - their 1-8 record in one-run contests ranks worst in the American League. This matchup also continued Boston's recent dominance at Fenway, where they've won 14 of 18 interleague games since 2022.
With both teams enjoying an off-day Thursday, the Red Sox prepare for a pivotal Yankees series while the Angels face mounting pressure to salvage their season. Boston's bullpen resurgence - 3.2 scoreless innings after the fifth - provides optimism for their playoff push, particularly Cooper Criswell's clutch ninth-inning escape with Trout aboard.
