Red Sox drop sixth straight to Angels, lose 5-2

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ANAHEIM -- If the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are going to reach the post-season this October, they'll have to do it without any further help from the Red Sox.The Sox suffered their sixth straight loss to the Angels Thursday night, 5-2, to complete the Angels' second sweep in the last week. Los Angeles also took three in a row at Fenway from Aug. 21-23. The two teams don't meet again this season.For the third straight game, the Angels scored multiple runs in the first inning, with Albert Pujols smacking a two-run double to left.After a solo run in the second, the Angels used four straight hits off Jon Lester (8-11) in the fourth to add to their lead.A sacrifice fly by Mike Aviles in the second and a fourth-inning solo homer from James Loney accounted for the only two runs of the night for the Sox, who fell to 9-19.Zack Greinke went seven innings and earned his third win for the Angels since being obtained from Milwaukee in late July.The loss signaled the first time in franchise history that the Red Sox have been swept in a season series of at least six games against any opponent.

STAR OF THE GAME: Zack GreinkeSince coming to the Angels a month ago, Greinke had been pretty mediocre before Thursday night. Then, he pitched seven innings and limited the Sox to two runs in picking up his third win since the trade.
HONORABLE MENTION: Albert PujolsPujols doubled home two runs in the first, giving the Angels a lead three batters in. He then singled in the third and came around to score as the Angels enjoyed another two-run inning.
GOAT OF THE GAME: Jon LesterThough he registered his third complete game of the season, Lester saw his modest three-game winning streak come to an end, charged with five runs over eight innings.
TURNING POINT: In the third inning, the Angels pieced together four straight hits to score twice. They would add just one more over the final five innings, but they had all they would need to compete the sweep of the Sox.
BY THE NUMBERS: First baseman James Loney became the first Red Sox player in 17 years to collect at least one RBI in each of his first four games with the team. Matt Stairs was the last player to do so, in 1995.
QUOTE OF NOTE: "When you face teams like this that you don't face a lot, you have to minimize the damage early and I just didn't do that.'' -- Jon Lester.

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