BOSTON (Reuters) - The Boston Red Sox stretched their unbeaten streak against the Los Angeles Angels to nine games with a 7-5 win on Wednesday that kept them in the hunt for top spot in the American League East division.
With the help of a wild pitch and a hit batsman, the Red Sox scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and held on for the victory to remain 5.5 games back of division leaders Tampa Bay and New York.
Adrian Beltre went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, including a two-run home run in the fifth inning that pulled Boston to within one run of the Angels.
The Red Sox took the lead in the seventh when Los Angeles pitcher Kevin Jepsen threw a bases-loaded wild pitch and then, after an intentional walk, hit pinch-hitter Daniel Nava with the bases loaded to bring in the game-winning run.
Red Sox starter John Lackey, who spent the previous eight season with the Angels, allowed five runs in seven innings and won for the third time this year against his former team.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)
