Red Sox go on offensive early in downing Angels

Masataka Yoshida and Triston Casas each drove in two runs as the Boston Red Sox used an early offensive surge to take down the visiting Los Angeles Angels 7-2 on Saturday afternoon.

The Red Sox totaled 11 hits in the game, scoring six of their seven runs against Angels starter Griffin Canning (0-2) across the first two innings.

Yoshida, Wilyer Abreu and Reese McGuire were all 2-for-4, while Casas contributed his third home run of the season to Boston's offense.

Greg Weissert (1-1) pitched two scoreless innings, yielding one hit and no walks with three strikeouts to earn the win in relief of Cooper Criswell, who fanned four while allowing two runs on five hits over the first four frames.

The Angels' only scoring was a Taylor Ward two-run homer in the third.

Ward, Anthony Rendon and Logan O'Hoppe each had two hits for Los Angeles.

Abreu's one-out double to right set the wheels in motion for a big first inning, as the Red Sox tagged Canning for his first four runs on five hits on the way to a 6-0 lead.

After Abreu hit himself aboard, Yoshida dropped a single into right to plate Boston's opening run before Casas made it a 3-0 game after crushing a two-run homer over the bullpens in right-center in the next at-bat.

The offense continued with two outs as Enmanuel Valdez doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Ceddanne Rafaela's hit to short.

McGuire opened the second inning with a single and crossed the plate with Boston's fifth run following Abreu's two-out knock to right. After Abreu stole second, Yoshida lined a single to left to make it 6-0.

Rendon led off the visitors' third with a single, and Ward put the only blemish on Criswell's line with a two-out, two-run homer to straightaway center.

The Red Sox scratched across another run in the fourth as David Hamilton singled with one out, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error, and scored on Jarren Duran's sacrifice fly to left.

Josh Winckowski followed Weissert with two scoreless innings of his own, striking out two while not allowing a hit.

Brandon Drury and O'Hoppe both singled in the Angels' ninth, but Joely Rodriguez induced a game-ending double play to complete the win and an errorless day for Boston's defense.

Canning finished the day with six strikeouts over four innings, but he allowed all seven of Boston's runs -- six of which were earned.

Valdez later left the game with a left thumb contusion while running the bases.

--Field Level Media