ANAHEIM (Interstat) — Willson Contreras launched a three-run home run in the first inning and Romy Gonzalez added a two-run homer in a four-run fifth as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Angels 8-1 on Saturday, July 4, 2026 at Angel Stadium.

The victory before 43,599 fans in 2 hours 38 minutes gave Boston consecutive wins in the three-game series after a 5-2 win Friday. The Red Sox improved to 39-48, while the Angels fell to 36-54.

Boston struck quickly against Angels starter Sam Aldegheri. Anthony Seigler drew a leadoff walk, and after Ceddanne Rafaela lined out, Wilyer Abreu walked to put runners at first and second. Contreras then drove a 1-0 pitch over the left-field wall for his 19th home run of the season, giving Boston a 3-0 lead.

The Angels answered in the second inning against Red Sox starter Sonny Gray. Josh Lowe led off with a solo home run to center field, his seventh of the year, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Jo Adell walked and Wade Meckler singled, but Gray struck out Donovan Walton and Tyler Heineman to strand two runners.

Boston broke the game open in the fifth. Seigler led off with a double, Rafaela walked and Abreu lined a two-run double to right field, scoring Seigler and Rafaela to make it 5-1. After Contreras and Caleb Durbin flied out, Gonzalez crushed a two-run homer to left, his first of the season, extending the lead to 7-1. Gray helped himself with a hit by pitch to Jarren Duran, but Andruw Monasterio popped out to end the inning.

The Red Sox added a run in the eighth. Monasterio singled, Connor Wong singled, and after Seigler flied out, Rafaela doubled to left, scoring Monasterio for an 8-1 advantage.

Gray earned his 10th win against one loss, working 5 2/3 innings and allowing one run on four hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. He was replaced by relievers who combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Angels managed only four hits and grounded into three double plays. Lowe’s home run was the only extra-base hit for Los Angeles. Denzer Guzman had a single and Donovan Walton also singled. Zach Neto went 0 for 4, Jorge Soler 0 for 3 and Jo Adell 0 for 2 with a walk.

Aldegheri (3-4) took the loss, allowing three runs on one hit over four innings with two strikeouts and two walks. Ryan Zeferjahn tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, and Chase Silseth pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.

The most important stretch came in the top of the fifth when Boston turned a 3-1 lead into a 7-1 advantage. Abreu’s two-run double broke the game open and Gonzalez’s home run provided the knockout blow, effectively putting the game out of reach against an Angels offense that could not generate multiple-run rallies.

Boston’s offense totaled seven hits, with Rafaela collecting two doubles and Contreras adding the home run and three RBIs. The Red Sox drew five walks and were hit by two pitches.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Boston 7, Angels 6, while the ELO system gave Boston a 57.00 percent probability to win. Boston was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5, and the total of nine runs went under the over-under line of 8.5.