BOSTON -- It took a career-high 112 pitches, but left-hander Reid Detmers continued his masterful run since the All-Star break by outdueling former teammate Patrick Sandoval on Tuesday night.
Detmers struck out nine over six scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and one walk in the Angels’ 6-1 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. His 1.37 ERA in 10 starts in the second half leads the Majors, and he has struck out 68 and walked 10 in 59 1/3 innings over that stretch. He also set a club record with his sixth straight start of going at least six innings and allowing one run or fewer.
Detmers also improved to 5-8 with a 3.32 ERA in a career-high 29 starts this season in his return to the rotation after pitching in relief last year. He has struck out 191 and walked 45 in 168 innings, and he has mostly been hurt by poor run support. Even with his 1.37 ERA over his past 10 outings, the Angels are just 2-8 in those games.
As usual, Detmers flooded the strike zone with his arsenal, but the biggest issue was the Red Sox fouling off 30 pitches. It’s a reason why his pitch count was so high despite walking just one batter. But he did generate 14 swings and misses, including seven with his slider and six with his four-seamer.
The lone hit Detmers allowed came in the first inning, a two-out single by Wilyer Abreu. He also walked Caleb Durbin in the second inning and hit Jahmai Jones with a pitch in the third, but he retired the last 10 batters he faced. Detmers went back out for the sixth at 90 pitches, but he was able to get through the inning to help the bullpen.
Detmers’ previous career high in pitches was 108, which he had done three times, the last time coming on Sept. 11, 2023. It was tied for the eighth-most pitches by any starter in the Majors this year. Detmers received some leeway because he was pitching on an extra day of rest, and he’ll also get another extra day with an off-day looming on Thursday.
Detmers bested Sandoval, who was his teammate on the Angels from 2021-24 before signing a two-year deal with Boston before last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Detmers received rare run support, as the Angels scored four runs against Sandoval in six innings.