TIM LINCECUM had another rough outing Friday night, walking six batters in five innings as the Angels lost 6-2 to the Boston Red Sox in Anaheim (Flickr/Keith Allison).

By Pete Zarustica

On Thursday night, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim caught a lucky break to beat the Boston Red Sox on a ninth inning error. That sort of lighting did not strike a second time on Friday as the Halos fell 6-2 to the Boston Red Sox.

Tim Lincecum’s rocky road to a comeback stayed rough as he walked six batters and gave up five hits and four runs in five innings. His record is now 2-5 and his ERA an high-flying 8.49.

“The first 30 or 40 pitches Tim threw, I think it was pretty obvious that he had a lot of problems with his delivery and his release point,” Halo manager Mike Scioscia said. “He couldn’t get his fastball into the zone where he wanted to. … All in all, some of the same things plagued him.”

Boston, for its part, got another very good pitching performance from its starter. Rick Porcello pitched a five-hit complete game. He struck out three Angels, but walked none as he improved his record to 14-2.

The Angels led early with two runs in the third. A ground ball by Andrelton Simmons and a single by Carlos Perez gave them a 2-0 lead which didn’t last long. A double by Xander Bogaerts and a double by David Ortiz tied the game, and the Bosox added four more runs after that, including two on home runs by Jackie Bradley and Bogaerts.

Albert Pujols led the Angel offense with two hits and a run scored, raising his batting average to .258. The teams’ two top hitters – Yunel Escobar and Mike Trout – went a combined 0-for-8.

The loss put the Angels at 46-57, still in fifth place in the American League West. Boston is 56-45, in third in the AL West but just 1.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles.

The series continues in Anaheim Saturday. Hector Santiago (9-4) will make the start for the Angels, dueling Drew Pomeranz (8-8).