Red Sox beat Angels 5-2, pull within two games of Yankees

The Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-2 for their fifth consecutive victory, continuing a strong post-All-Star-break run that moved them within two games of the Yankees for the AL’s top wild-card spot. Adley Rutschman hit a three-run homer, Jarren Duran added a solo shot and Eli White drove in another run, while Boston’s pitching limited Los Angeles to two runs. Brayan Bello threw five scoreless innings in his first start since June after spending much of the season in Triple-A and the bullpen, and Garrett Whitlock closed out the win. The victory followed Boston’s four-game sweep of Baltimore, during which the pitching staff allowed only three runs in the final three games and Aroldis Chapman recorded his 400th career save. The Angels have now lost 12 of their last 14 games, while Grayson Rodriguez surrendered five runs in four innings for Los Angeles.