Sports betting news and advice.

The Los Angeles Angels invade Fenway Park to play the Boston Red Sox for game 2 of a four-game series.

The Boston Red Sox (12-15, 6-8 home) finally found their offense last night against the Angels torching them for 17 runs and giving hope to Red Sox backers that their early season slump is now a memory.

The offensive outburst ended a three-game skid and came as a bit of a surprise for a Boston team that was expected to get runs, but so far hasn’t delivered. Last night’s run production represented a full 13 percent of their total runs this season.

Off-season acquisitions Bill Hall and Adrian Beltre both had their first home runs of the season, but Dustin Pedroia was the big producer of the day with a three-run homer to put the exclamation mark on a sixth inning that saw the Yankees produce seven runs.

Starting for the Red Sox will be left-hander Jon Lester (1-2, 4.71 ERA). Lester struggled early in the season, but he seems to be back in the groove with 12 2/3 scoreless innings and 18 strikeouts total in his two latest starts. His latest was a seven inning gem in which he surrendered just a hit and had 11 strikeouts. Lester struggled last season versus the Angels going 1-1 in four starts with a 7.78 ERA.

The Red Sox are a disappointing 6.5 games back in the ultra-competitive AL East race and will need to build on last night’s offense if they are to reel in the Yankees and Rays and make it a three team race for the division and wild card.

The Los Angeles Angels (12-15, 4-6 away) of Anaheim are on a five-game losing streak but are still only 2.5-games back in the AL West race. No team in the AL West has really asserted itself and taken over the division as they all sit within 2.5 games. The Texas Rangers currently lead the mediocre pack with a 14-12 record.

The Angels problem all season has been their pitching and last night’s 17 runs contributed to a league-worst 138 earned runs by the Angels pitching staff.

Right hander Ervin Santana (1-2, 4.59 ERA) gets the start tonight. Santana gave up for home runs in his first two starts of the season, but he has improved significantly in his last three starts lasting at least six innings in each while recording a 3.32 ERA. His has a 0-2 career record in four starts at Boston’s Fenway park and a 6.33 ERA.