When the Los Angeles Angels set a new franchise record for futility, Nickelback provided the soundtrack.
In an effort to break the tension of their epic losing streak on Wednesday night, the Halos sent all nine batters home to songs by the much-maligned Canadian rock band.
However, these angels can only wish they were as successful as Nickelback.
Los Angeles’ losing streak hit a team-best 14 games when Bobby Dalbec drove in the only run with a sixth-inning brace for the Boston Red Sox in a 1-0 victory.
“It’s a broken record,” Angels interim manager Phil Nevin said. “We keep saying it. The effort is good. These guys really want to win a game right now, and we know what that will mean for us when we do.
Nathan Eovaldi (4-2) pitched five six-hit innings with five strikeouts in Boston’s seventh straight win, a season high. With their second 1-0 victory in three days at the Big A, the Red Sox remained perfect in June and during their 10-game trip to the West Coast (6-0).
With another lifeless offensive performance and a pitch just good enough to lose, the Angels fell to 0-2 under Nevin, who replaced Joe Maddon on Tuesday. Halos’ baffling slippage is now longer than the previous team record set in the last 12 games of 1988 and the 1989 season opener.
“Every loss is the same,” said rookie Reid Detmers, who got the ball to three hits in the fifth inning. “Obviously closer losses, they can be a bit more difficult, but they all hurt. We are going in the right direction. The clubhouse is fine.
Los Angeles was 24-13 and held first place in the AL West on May 15, but the Angels have since gone 3-18 with a simultaneous collapse of their injury-plagued roster and perpetually pitching staff. poor.
The Halos got seven singles but were shut out for the third time in six games despite their imaginative home plate support. The sweet night was no surprise with a roster featuring six backups, largely due to injuries. Shohei Ohtani went 1 for 4 with two strikeouts as the leadoff batter for Los Angeles.
“We had great pitching performances,” Nevin said. “Offensively, we just didn’t have enough guys at the start.”
Matt Strahm got the final two outs for his third save, completing a stellar five-pitch performance that didn’t walk a batter in Boston’s third shutout win in five games.
“Another good for them,” Boston manager Alex Cora said of his bullpen. “They’ve been throwing the ball well for a while.”
Boston didn’t have to face Mike Trout, who sat out after stretching his groin Tuesday night. The Angels aren’t worried about a long-term absence for their three-time AL MVP, who practiced extensively before the game.
But the Halos roster is depleted with the simultaneous absences of Trout, Taylor Ward, Anthony Rendon and David Fletcher due to injury. Luis Rengifo was also on the paternity list ahead of the game.
Detmers had his second straight start without allowing a run. The rookie came out after Christian Arroyo’s brace in the fifth sent Jackie Bradley Jr. to the third, but reliever Archie Bradley escaped the jam.
Boston rallied in the sixth when Alex Verdugo walked Jimmy Herget (1-1) and quickly scored on a brace into the right corner of the field by Dalbec, who also drove in two runs Tuesday night.
ALL THE GOOD REASONS
Nevin said the Nickelback serenade wasn’t his idea, but he wasn’t angry.
“I like it,” Nevin said. “I love Nickelback. Throughout the game, I have songs in my head that I can’t help but sing.
Detmers said the program “definitely confused us a bit, but that’s just to keep us loose, have fun.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: Leading hitter and center fielder Kiké Hernández was on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained right hip flexor. … SS Xander Bogaerts started and hit the cleanup after leaving Tuesday’s game late with a left shoulder tightness.
Angels: Rendon (right wrist inflammation) has “made good progress lately,” according to athletic trainer Mike Frostad. Rendon took balls on the ground and slammed into the cage. The $245 million third baseman hasn’t played since May 26. … Ward’s tight hamstrings are “healing up pretty well for us,” Frostad said. The Angels are hoping their starting right fielder plays the Dodgers on Tuesday when he’s eligible to be off the injured list.
NEXT
Ohtani (3-4, 3.99 ERA) makes his 10th start of the season in the series finale, facing Boston’s Nick Pivetta (5-4, 3.50). Ohtani pitched seven scoreless innings at Fenway Park on May 5, allowing six hits and striking out 11.
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