ANAHEIM – Rarely has Reid Detmers been better, a 2022 no-hitter notwithstanding, with the offense finally able to show its appreciation in the later innings Saturday.
Detmers tied a career high with 12 strikeouts and the offense scratched out a pair of runs in the sixth inning as the Angels pulled out a 2-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
“The best thing I like about him is his poise,” manager Ron Washington said. “He’s as poised as they get and his confidence is sky high. The thing that I like is he’s using all parts of the strike zone.”
The same Red Sox offense that scored eight runs with nine hits in Friday’s series-opening victory struck out six times in the first two innings against Detmers. It was the fourth time in Detmers’ career he has recorded double-digit strikeouts.
“Sometimes those starts are kind of scary,” Detmers said about all of the early strikeouts while feeling comfortable on the mound. “You feel too good and stuff could get out of hand. But I could tell in the bullpen I was feeling pretty good. I just had to transfer it over to the game mound.”
And just when it looked like Boston’s single run in the third inning might befuddle the Angels all night, an unlikely two-out rally in the sixth inning emerged.
The first two Angels hitters went down easily in the sixth against Red Sox right-hander Greg Weissert. Then came an infield single from Luis Rengifo, who was promptly called out on a steal attempt of second base. But for the second time in the game, replay overturned an out call on an Angels steal attempt by second-base umpire Tony Randazzo.
Given new life, Mickey Moniak walked and Zach Neto followed with his own infield single to shortstop when Moniak outraced the throw on a force-out attempt to second base.
“(Moniak’s) speed played dividends for us tonight, beating that ball (to second base),” Washington said. “That was the biggest play of the game right there. Gave us another opportunity to try to do something with the bases loaded.”
After he delivered just his second hit from the leadoff spot when he singled in the first inning, Anthony Redon sent a bouncing ball to Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, who was unable to make the routine play, allowing two runners to score.
For Detmers (2-0), it was his second impressive start of the young season in two tries after he held the Baltimore Orioles to one run over five innings Sunday in the Angels’ first win of the season.
“You just have to keep it going and keep your confidence high,” said Detmers, who has 19 strikeouts in 11 innings. “Obviously there’s going to be ups and downs but I came into this year just telling myself, ‘You’ve got around 32 starts so just move on to the next.’ That’s kind of my mindset this year and so far it’s gone pretty well.”
In addition to just one walk allowed, Detmers gave up his lone run in six innings on three hits. In all four outings where Detmers has struck out 10 or more, he has allowed three hits or less. In three of those four he has allowed just a lone run.
Further appreciation for the outing came from the bullpen when Adam Cimber, Matt Moore and Carlos Estevez took down the final nine outs, with Estevez earning his third save in three chances. Angels pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts.
“Attacking the strike zone, getting guys to swing early and we just kept attacking,” Estevez said of the pitching staff. “What Detmers did out there was amazing. It was great to see that. And we showed him we had his back.”
The defense supplied its own tip of the cap when Mike Trout went to the warning track, just in front of the center field wall, to take away an extra-base hit from Jarren Duran for the third out of the eighth inning.
“Every play that was made out there, we needed,” Washington said. “It was a 2-1 ballgame. Every play we made we needed and we played great defense.”
The Angels are now 5-1 since Detmers made his season debut, with his next start in line to come next weekend, with the Angels in Boston.
