After series win in Atlanta, Red Sox return to Fenway to face Angels

For manager Alex Cora and the Boston Red Sox, it’s all about moving forward.

Following a weekend series win in Atlanta, the Red Sox (29-32) look to continue down the right track when they begin a three-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night.

Garrett Crochet pitched the Red Sox to a 3-1 Sunday win to clinch the series over the Braves, striking out a season-high 12 over seven innings of one-run ball. A three-run double by Trevor Story in the first inning proved to be all the support the left-hander would need.

Climbing out of a five-game skid with the series victory was a start, but there’s plenty more room to grow, especially with younger players such as Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell playing everyday roles.

“Now we need more,” Cora said. “We have to be better. I know we’re young, but we expect better from this group. I think the expectations are high for this organization. We’ve got to put everything behind us.”

Richard Fitts (0-2, 2.70 ERA) is back in the Red Sox rotation, having been activated from the injured list (right pectoral strain) to make a Tuesday start against the Milwaukee Brewers. He pitched three innings of scoreless, two-hit ball in Boston’s fourth straight loss at the time.

Monday will mark his fifth start this season and the first of his career against the Angels.

The Red Sox placed another righty on the injured list in Justin Slaten (right shoulder inflammation) before Sunday’s game, recalling Luis Guerrero from Triple-A Worcester.

“Just a matter of getting ahead of it and taking care of it before something major could happen,” Slaten said.

Cora had also planned to give Campbell his first start at first base, but Abraham Toro continued to swing the bat well in Atlanta. He went 6-for-11 in the series.

“Toro’s pushing the envelope,” Cora said. “He’s putting up good at-bats.”

The Angels suffered a 4-2 Sunday loss at the Cleveland Guardians, as they were no-hit through five innings and wound up dropping their third straight series. They now have a series losing streak in Cleveland that dates back to 2013.

Despite another series loss, the return of three-time American League MVP Mike Trout, who missed almost a full month with a bone bruise on his left knee, was a big lift.

Trout went 3-for-4 with an RBI double in Saturday’s 7-5 loss and had a pinch-hit RBI on Sunday. He was hitting just .179 in 29 games before the injury.

“It’s just awesome watching him play,” said Angels starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks, who played college baseball in New England at Dartmouth College. “Growing up as a fan of the game, it’s really cool being around him every day.”

Trout was out of Sunday’s starting lineup after back-to-back days as the designated hitter, but was called upon as a pinch-hitter and delivered an RBI single.

“He’ll be back in there when we get to Boston,” Angels manager Ron Washington said.

The Angels hand the ball to 35-year-old lefty Tyler Anderson (2-2, 3.39), who has made just four career starts against Boston after spending the first seven years of his career in the National League. He is 1-1 with a 5.30 career ERA in the head-to-head series.

Anderson, who has not won since April 18, last pitched on Tuesday against another American League East foe, the New York Yankees. He allowed just two runs (one earned) on five hits in six innings but suffered his second loss.

–Field Level Media