Red Sox 8, Dodgers 1
LOS ANGELES -- Another Red Sox starting pitcher shut down the Dodgers' lineup, and Boston sent Los Angeles to its first series loss since mid-June with an 8-1 victory in the rubber match Sunday night at Dodger Stadium.
Jake Peavy pitched his second complete game of the season, his first since joining the Red Sox last month in a three-team trade. He allowed just three hits, and the Dodgers did not have more than one baserunner in any inning as they dropped their first series in their last 19.
In each of the first two games of the three-game set, Boston held the vaunted Los Angeles lineup to two runs. On Friday, that was enough for Los Angeles and Ricky Nolasco in a 2-0 Dodgers win. On Saturday, the Red Sox ended the Dodgers' four-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory.
On Sunday, Peavy yielded only Adrian Gonzalez's solo home run in the fourth inning, which sliced Boston's lead to 3-1. Peavy struck out five and walked one, throwing 111 pitches (77 strikes).
Peavy improved to 14-2 with a 2.21 ERA in 24 career starts against Los Angeles. He was making his first start at Dodger Stadium since 2009, when he was a member of the San Diego Padres.
After receiving some early support, Peavy got even more of a boost when the Boston lineup teed off late in the game.
The Red Sox hit three home runs in the final four innings, stretching a two-run lead to seven runs on the strength of some big bats.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia blasted a two-run home run to deep left in the sixth inning, scoring Mike Napoli. Shane Victorino added a solo shot in the seventh, and Napoli hammered a pitch over the left field wall in the ninth inning to score Dustin Pedroia.
Pedroia had three hits, while Victorino, Napoli and Xander Bogaerts each had two.
The Boston offense jumped on Los Angeles early with a consistent approach, notching single runs in the first, third and fourth innings.
Napoli opened the scoring with an RBI ground-rule double in the first inning, knocking in Victorino. Pedroia hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning to score Jacoby Ellsbury, and Bogaerts doubled home Will Middlebrooks in the fourth inning.
Dodgers starter Chris Capuano (4-7) allowed three runs on six hits in five innings.
NOTES: Los Angeles RHP Josh Beckett (thoracic outlet syndrome surgery) said he could resume throwing as soon as next week but he will not pitch again this season. His goal is to be ready by next spring training. ... Dodgers CF Matt Kemp (sprained ankle) could participate in a minor league rehab game as soon as next week. ... ESPN commentator John Kruk was taken out of the Dodger Stadium press box on a gurney because of dehydration before the game. ... Boston RHP Clay Buchholz (strained neck, bursitis in right shoulder) had a poor rehab outing Sunday. He allowed three runs (one earned) on one hit and three walks in two-thirds of an inning for short-season Class A Lowell, making 38 pitches (19 strikes).
