The Boston Red Sox picked up their first road win of the season Thursday and now head to Southern California to take on the Los Angeles Angels this weekend

Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Angels

Boston didn’t score in its two previous games away from Fenway Park and were a franchise-worst 0-7 on the road before picking up a 5-3 win over Oakland.  “It’s a little late, but it feels good,” manager Terry Francona stated.  “We need to try to stay in the moment and win.”  The Red Sox continue a 10-day, nine-game road trip and are currently 1-4 versus American League West opponents this year.  The team is still waiting for offseason acquisition Carl Crawford to break out, but he was able to contribute an RBI single in the second inning and has shown signs of breaking a current 2-for-20 slump.  “It feels good to contribute any time,” Crawford commented.  Boston is 2-6 versus right-handed starters this year and a road favorite on the MLB lines page.

Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA in three starts this year and has compiled a 2-0 mark and 0.60 ERA over his last two outings.  The right-hander has allowed just five hits in 49 at-bats during the last two games and held opponents to a .102 batting average.  “How many starts do we have to go and then we forget about last year,” Beckett stated.  “I know I stunk last year.  We all know that.  I think maybe we need to move forward a little bit.”  He has gone at least six innings in all four career starts at Angel Stadium, going 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA.

Los Angeles is coming off a successful 5-1 road trip that has led the team to the top of the American League West standings.  “We’re a long way away from where we need to be for the long haul,” manager Mike Scioscia stated.  The Angels went 4-2 on their first homestand this year, but hit just .214 while averaging 2.8 runs.  Los Angeles will need to play much better at home to have success in this series when considering it went 1-9 versus Boston in 2010.  In fact, the Red Sox sweep at Angel Stadium last year snapped the Angels’ streak of 79 consecutive home series without being swept.  Los Angeles is 100-73 at home the past three years.

Angels starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood will face the Red Sox for the first time in his career Thursday and just earned his first win with a 7-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox.  The rookie right-hander is an even 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts this season, allowing three home runs in 12 innings of work.  He must continue attacking hitters to continue being successful on the mound during his stint with the big club.  “The game plan was to attack hitters and that’s what he did,” catcher Hank Conger said.  “It’s fun that he came out with his first win.”

Bettors will likely back the Angels due to their 5-0 record versus right-handed starters, while the Red Sox are 1-10 on the road.