Angels rally but still lose home opener to Red Sox
Logan O’Hoppe hits a sixth-inning grand slam to tie a game that the Angels had trailed by four runs in the second inning, but they allow single runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth and fall, 8-6
The Angels’ Taylor Ward scores past Boston Red Sox catcher Reese McGuire on an RBI single by Miguel Sanó (not pictured) to tie the game at 6-6 during the seventh inning of the Angels’ home opener on Friday night at Angel Stadium. The Angels lost, 8-6. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Angels and Boston Red Sox line up for the presentation of colors by the United States Army Color Guard during the pregame ceremonies for the Angels’ home opener on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A giant flag is rolled up after the national anthem before the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Former Angels pitcher Jered Weaver waves to the crowd before throwing out a ceremonial pitch before the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Former Angels pitcher Jered Weaver throws out a ceremonial pitch before the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Former Angels pitcher Jered Weaver reacts after throwing out a ceremonial pitch before the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Former Angels pitcher Jered Weaver hugs his son Aden after throwing a ceremonial first pitch before the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Fans look on before the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws to the plate during their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels star Mike Trout fouls out to Boston Red Sox catcher Reese McGuire (not pictured) during the first inning of the Angels’ home opener on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Boston Red Sox catcher Reese McGuire catches a foul pop-up hit by Angels star Mike Trout (not pictured) during the first inning on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Angels sarting pitcher Griffin Canning holds a ball after giving up a two-run home run to the Boston Red Sox’s Reese McGuire (not pictured) during the second inning of the Angels’ home opener on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Boston Red Sox’s Reese McGuire, left, slaps hands with third base coach Kyle Hudson as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Boston Red Sox’s Reese McGuire, right, celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws to the plate during the first inning of the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Boston Red Sox’s Tyler O’Neill celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Angels center fielder Mike Trout watches as a ball hit for a solo home run by the Boston Red Sox’s Triston Casas soars over the fence during the second inning of the Angels’ home opener on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story throws to first base to force out the Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe (not pictured) during the first inning on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Angels star Mike Trout hits a single during the fourth inning of the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Angels star Mike Trout runs to first base after hitting a single during the fourth inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story is injured after trying to catch a ball hit by the Angels’ Mike Trout during the fourth inning on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story is treated by a trainer, left, as Manager Alex Cora, right, looks on after Story was injured while trying to catch a ball hit by the Angels’ Mike Trout during the fourth inning on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story, center, walks off the field with Manager Alex Cora, left, and a trainer after being injured while diving to try and catch a ball hit by the Angels’ Mike Trout during the fourth inning on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Angels shortstop Zach Neto catches a fly ball hit by the Boston Red Sox’s Rafael Devers during the fifth inning of the home opener on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning blows a bubble with his gum in the dugout after being replaced during the fifth inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Boston Red Sox’s Ceddanne Rafaela slides safely into second base as Angels shortstop Zach Neto takes a late throw during the fifth inning of the Angels’ home opener on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Angels star Mike Trout grimaces after hitting a fly ball for an out with the bases loaded to end the fifth inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Angels star Mike Trout watches after hitting a fly ball for an out with the bases loaded to end the fifth inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe hits a game-tying grand slam during the sixth inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe hits a game-tying grand slam during the sixth inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe hits a game-tying grand slam during the sixth inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela leaps but can’t reach a ball hit for a game-tying grand slam by the Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe during the sixth inning of the Angels’ home opener on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe pumps his fist as he runs the bases after hitting a game-tying grand slam during the sixth inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Angels players react in the dugout after teammate Logan O’Hoppe, not pictured, hit a game-tying grand slam during the sixth inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe pumps his fist as he rounds first base after hitting a game-tying grand slam in the sixth inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe pumps his fist as he runs the bases after hitting a game-tying grand slam during the sixth inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe (14) is greeted at home plate by Miguel Sanó (22) and Taylor Ward (3) after hitting a game-tying grand slam in the sixth inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe, right, high-fives teammate Taylor Ward after hitting a game-tying grand slam during the sixth inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe, left, is embraced at home plate by teammate Miguel Sanó after hitting a game-tying grand slam in the sixth inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe, left, celebrates with teammate Mike Trout as he returns to the dugout after hitting a game-tying grand slam during the sixth inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Boston Red Sox right fielder Tyler O’Neill dives but comes up short trying to catch a ball hit for a single by the Angels’ Taylor Ward during the seventh inning on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Boston Red Sox right fielder Tyler O’Neill comes up short trying to catch a ball hit for a single by the Angels’ Taylor Ward during the seventh inning on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Boston Red Sox right fielder Tyler O’Neill comes up short trying to catch a ball hit for a single by the Angels’ Taylor Ward during the seventh inning on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward scores past Boston Red Sox catcher Reese McGuire on an RBI single by Miguel Sanó (not pictured) to tie the game at 6-6 during the seventh inning of the Angels’ home opener on Friday night at Angel Stadium. The Angels lost, 8-6. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward slides home to tie the game during the seventh inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward celebrates in the dugout after scoring the tying run in the seventh inning of their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Kenley Jansen throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Angels on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Kenley Jansen throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Angels on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Kenley Jansen, right, hugs catcher Reese McGuire after the final out of the ninth inning of their 8-6 victory over the Angels in the Angels’ home opener on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Angels outfielder Mike Trout, right, talks with former players Jered Weaver, left, and Torii Hunter during warmups before the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Angels manager Ron Washington, left, talks with sports agent Scott Boras, right, during warmups before the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
The United States Army Color Guard begins to leave the field following the National Anthem for the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A pair of F-15C Eagles from the 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard fly over Angel Stadium during the National Anthem for the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Photographers take photos of former Angels pitcher Jered Weaver throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fans arrive for the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Fans arrive for the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Fan Sam Sepanji throws a ball in front of Angel Stadium before the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Fans call out to former Angels to sign autographs before the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
An Angels fan tries to stay warm before the team’s home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Former player Mickey Hatcher signs an autograph for a fan before the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Fans arrive for the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Fans arrive for the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Fans receive an Angels calendar upon entering the stadium for the home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Fans arrive for the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
A baseball sits in right field before the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
A bat belonging to Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel is seen in the dugout before the Angels’ home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM — The Angels provided an Angel Stadium sellout crowd of 44,714 with plenty of entertainment, but not a victory.
After trailing by four runs in the second inning, the Angels rallied to tie the score in the sixth and seventh innings before losing, 8-6, to the Boston Red Sox in their home opener on Friday night.
Logan O’Hoppe’s sixth-inning grand slam pulled the Angels even, and they had a few chances to take the lead after that, but they couldn’t do it.
“We know who we are,” O’Hoppe said. “It’s going to take for everyone else to see. … We know we’re capable of doing that tonight. We’re capable of finishing the job when we get in situations like that going forward.”
Their failure to finish the job this time was largely because of the ineffectiveness of José Soriano, the Angels’ flame-throwing multi-inning reliever who had been dominant in his season debut last weekend. He gave up single runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth.
Jarren Duran, a product of Cypress High and Long Beach State, gave the Red Sox the final lead of the night with an eighth-inning homer off a 99.4-mph fastball from Soriano.
Soriano gave up another homer in the ninth, the second of the game from Tyler O’Neill, and the Angels (4-3) saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.
“They showed what they’re made of,” Manager Ron Washington said of his team’s comeback. “The game wasn’t over till the ninth inning, and I guarantee a lot of people thought it was over after they scored four runs. I’m proud of how those guys continued to have good at-bats. We just came up short.”
The Angels fell behind 4-0 in the second inning when Griffin Canning gave up three homers, and the hosts didn’t even get their first hit until the fourth.
In the fifth the Angels pushed home a run, but Mike Trout hit a flyout to leave the bases loaded. The Red Sox then got that run back in the top of the sixth, taking a 5-1 lead.
The Angels then capitalized on a sloppy inning from the Red Sox. Taylor Ward hit a fly ball to center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, who had the ball in his glove and simply dropped it. Brandon Drury then hit a grounder to third baseman Rafael Devers, whose throw to second was dropped by Enmanuel Valdez. Miguel Sanó was then hit by a pitch loading the bases.
An out later, O’Hoppe blasted a ball over the center field fence, tying the score with his first career grand slam.
The momentum was firmly on the Angels’ side at that point, but the Red Sox kept shoving them back down every time they hopped up. Each time the Angels scored, the Red Sox scored in the following inning.
“We couldn’t put a shutdown inning from the sixth inning on,” Washington said. “If we could have shut down two of those innings, it might have been a different game.”
By the time it was over, Canning’s outing seemed a distant memory.
Canning made it through 4⅔ and he allowed four runs, all of them coming on the three homers he allowed in the second inning.
Canning hung a slider to O’Neill on a 1-and-0 pitch, and O’Neill hit it into the seats in right center.
Canning’s next pitch was a first-pitch fastball over the outside corner to Triston Casas, who also went the other way to hit a homer to left field.
After an out and a hit batter, Canning threw another first pitch fastball to Reese McGuire, who pulled out to left field.
“Too many fastballs center cut,” Washington said. “Against some good hitters that like first-pitch fastballs and we gave them first-pitch fastballs.”
The velocity on the two fastballs that the Red Sox hit out were 92.8 and 91.6 mph. Two starts into the season, Canning’s average fastball has been 92.7 mph, which is down from last season’s average of 94.7 mph.
“I would like to throw harder,” Canning said. “But it’s early. I’m trying to find the feels that I want to have. Just stick with the process and go from there.”
Logan O'Hoppe's first career grand slam is of the game-tying variety!
