The Boston Red Sox kicked off their nine-game road trip heading into the All-Star break with a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels, improving to 38-48 on the season. It was another fantastic outing for 25-year-old rookie left-hander Jake Bennett. 

Bennett made light work of an Angels lineup that entered Friday night's series opener with a weighted runs created+ of 84 at home, trailing only the Red Sox for the worst mark in the league. 

The 25-year-old retired the first 13 batters he faced before surrendering a single to former Red Sox second baseman Vaughn Grissom in the bottom of the fifth inning. After seven shutout innings, Bennett began to falter in the bottom of the eighth, allowing two runs on three hits, including a solo home run by Los Angeles center fielder Jose Siri, cutting Boston's lead to three, 5-2.

Overall, Bennett allowed just the two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking none in a career-high 7.2 innings. 

"He was awesome," interim manager Chad Tracy said of Bennett's outing. "He was in the zone, early and often... Couldn't have asked for more, it was a really, really great performance," he continued. 

Since being recalled from Triple-A Worcester on June 10 to fill the rotation spot left by the demoted Brayan Bello, Bennett has dominated in five starts, flashing much better stuff than in his first stint in Boston in early May. The rookie lefty has allowed just nine earned runs on 22 hits across 30.1 innings since taking Bello's spot in the rotation, while striking out 27 and walking only three batters. 

Overall, Bennett is 3-3 with a 3.10 ERA in 40.2 innings across the first seven starts of his major league career. 

En route to his 17th save of the season, Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman logged the 1,364th strikeout of his career, passing Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm to become the all-time leader in reliever strikeouts. 

Left-handed pitcher Patrick Sandoval will make what is likely his final rehab appearance on Saturday with Double-A Portland, where he hopes to bring his pitch count to 70. The 29-year-old left-hander has yet to appear in a game for the Red Sox after signing a two-year, $ 18.25 million deal with Boston while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery in the offseason ahead of the 2025 season. If all goes well in Portland, Sandoval is a candidate to take the open spot in the rotation after rookie left-hander Connelly Early was placed on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday with left elbow inflammation. 

The Red Sox will look to secure the series win over the Angels on Saturday night in game two of three at Angel Stadium. Sonny Gray (9-1, 2.69 ERA) will get the start for Boston opposite Sam Aldegheri (3-3, 4.85) for Los Angeles. First pitch set for 9:38 p.m. ET. 

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