BOSTON — Angels catcher Matt Thaiss, who was making just his third start of the season, found himself at the center of a storm.
Two Boston Red Sox hitters hit his glove with their bats, reaching base on catcher’s interference and setting up the decisive rally in the Angels’ 9-7 loss Saturday at Fenway Park.
Right-hander Ryan Tepera was in to protect a one-run lead in the eighth inning. He gave up a leadoff single to Enrique Hernandez, and then he seemed to retire Raimel Tapia on a line drive to deep left field.
Umpires ruled that Tapia’s bat had nicked Thaiss’ glove, though, so he was awarded first base. The Angels challenged the call, but replay confirmed it.
After a strikeout, Reese McGuire also reached on catcher’s interference, this one unquestioned to load the bases. Yu Chang then pulled a ground ball through the left side of the infield to drive in two runs.
Tepera recorded one more out, but hit Justin Turner with a pitch and walked Rob Refsnyder, forcing in another run. Tepera then signaled for a trainer and left the game with an injury.
The Angels came up empty in the ninth, ending the roller-coaster game.
The Angels took a quick lead when Gio Urshela popped a grand slam over the Green Monster in the first inning.
Urshela’s first homer of the season followed a Mike Trout double – the 300th of his career – and walks to Anthony Rendon and Hunter Renfroe.
Left-hander Tyler Anderson had a four-run cushion before he threw his first pitch, but the Angels were down by two runs when he threw his last pitch.
Anderson gave up two-run homers to Rafael Devers in the first and Chang in the fourth. He was eventually charged with six runs, his second poor outing in his first three starts with the Angels.
After pitching six scoreless innings against the Oakland A’s in his season debut, Anderson has allowed 11 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings in his past two starts.
Anderson has been spared losses in each of those games because of the Angels…
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