ANAHEIM, Calif. — David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, and Mike Trout were on the same field, but it was Xander Bogaerts who hit the most majestic shot Friday night, a two-run home run deep to left field in the seventh inning that secured a 6-2 victory for the Red Sox against the Los Angeles Angels.
It was the 13th home run of the season for Bogaerts, his career high. The power the Red Sox always believed Bogaerts would develop is starting to emerge.
But afterward, Bogaerts dismissed questions about his homer. He instead talked at length about his opposite-field double in the third inning, his dislike of called third strikes, and his desire to steal more bases.
The double certainly had its merits. With two outs and the Sox down, 2-0, Bogaerts stayed on a high fastball from Tim Lincecum and lined it to the gap. One run scored and he went to third on the throw to the plate. Bogaerts then scored on a single by Ortiz.
“It’s been a few days, a few weeks probably, that I couldn’t go the other way,’’ Bogaerts said. “I’m definitely more happy with that hit to right field. I’ve been staying on the ball longer instead of pulling off.’’
But what about that new career high for homers?
“I’m definitely more pleased with the line drive to right field. I’ll be honest with you,’’ he said. “That was something I probably couldn’t have done two weeks ago. I had no chance of doing that. But I worked a lot in the cage and got it back. I’ll continue working on it.’’
For Bogaerts, there is value in thinking small. He would rather control his swing and go the other way with men on base than muscle up and try to hit for power.
He saves his big swings for counts when he has an advantage or pitchers he feels particularly comfortable against. Bogaerts is ever wary of becoming too pull-conscious and lapsing into a one-dimensional hitter.
That’s why called strikeouts upset him so. If he swings and misses, that’s on him. If he takes a called third strike, well, that’s on him, too.
“I should at least be able to foul it off,’’ he said.
In the ninth inning, Bogaerts was called out on a 1-and-2 slider from Jhoulys Chacin that appeared low. Bogaerts, who almost never argues with umpires, stood at home plate so long discussing the pitch with Mark Ripperger that manager John Farrell felt compelled to come out of the dugout and break it up.
“I was upset, but I mean I’m upset with every strikeout looking,’’ Bogaerts said. “A strikeout looking is probably the worst feeling ever for me.’’
Bogaerts, who speaks four languages, joked that he used only English to complain to Ripperger.
“I think I know the strike zone, but I guess I don’t,’’ he said.
That Bogaerts focuses intently on the details of the game has helped him become one of the best hitters in the game.
Through Friday, he was hitting .331 with a .386 on-base percentage.
“He’s got such good plate coverage,’’ Farrell said Saturday before the Sox played the Angels. “He’s able to take pitches away that he did [Friday] night to the right-center field gap with how quick his hands are. Then he pulled his hands inside and drove the ball to left field.
“Those are examples of an outstanding hitter. The numbers reflect it.’’
Bogaerts said he had no particular goal in mind for how many home runs he would like to finish with. But he is intent on stealing 20 bases. Bogaerts had 10 in 2015 and so far this season has 13.
“I think I can get there,’’ he said.
Only three shortstops age 23 or younger have had 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season. Alex Rodriguez did it three times from 1997-99. Nomar Garciaparra accomplished it in 1997. The last was Hanley Ramirez in 2007.
“Xander wants to do the things people don’t expect,’’ assistant hitting coach Victor Rodriguez said. “Steals are part of that. We never have to worry about him working.’’
Rehab for Kimbrel
Craig Kimbrel faced three hitters and threw 17 pitches in an injury rehabilitation appearance with Triple A Pawtucket.
Facing Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at McCoy Stadium, Kimbrel allowed a single, got a grounder to first base and hit a batter.
“We looked at 20 pitches. With 17 pitches in the books, didn’t want to get into another hitter,’’ Farrell said.
Kimbrel will rejoin the team in Seattle and should be activated Monday.
Kimbrel injured his left knee running July 8 and underwent arthroscopic surgery three days later to repair torn cartilage.
Angels drop Nava
Daniel Nava won a World Series ring with the Red Sox and hit .267 over parts of five seasons. But little has gone right for him since, the latest setback coming before Saturday night’s game when the Angels designated him for assignment.
Nava hit .235 with a .611 OPS in 45 games for the Angels as part of a platoon in left field.
The Red Sox designated Nava for assignment last July 30. He was claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay and has since posted a .632 OPS over 76 games.
The Angels also activated outfielder Craig Gentry off the disabled list and designated him for assignment. Shane Robinson was activated off the disabled list and started in right field.
Swihart in limbo
Blake Swihart, who has not played since badly spraining his left ankle June 4, did not accompany the team on the trip. Farrell said it’s “too early to tell’’ whether Swihart plays again this season. Farrell said his next week would determine what Swihart does next. “As the intensity ramped, how he was going to respond physically was going to the predictor of a rehab assignment and eventual return,’’ Farrell said. “You can’t say he’s out of the woods yet.’’ . . . Allen Craig is two games into an injury rehab assignment with Single A Lowell. The first baseman has played only eight games this season because of injuries.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com.
