BOSTON - Lazy Sunday? Not quite the case for Wade Miley.
One of the quickest workers in all of Major League Baseball, Miley made quick work of the Anaheim Angels on Sunday.
It's hard to believe that one month ago Miley's job appeared to be in jeopardy, but the past is the past.
"It is what it is. The beginning of the season is over, it's behind me," Miley said after throwing eight innings of one-run ball on Sunday. "You just have to look in the future. Can't do nothing about the past. Correct some things and move on."
And the future suddenly looks bright for Miley. Dare we say the same for the Red Sox?
Boston rebounded after a bad loss on Friday to take the last two games of the series against the Angels. The team got superb pitching performances from both Steven Wright on Saturday and Miley on Sunday.
Miley retired the first 14 batters of the game in order before walking Chris Iannetta with two outs in the fifth. With one out in the sixth, he gave up back-to-back hits that led to a run - but that would be it as he got the next two batters out. All in all, Miley's season-high eight innings took 97 pitches, 61 of which were strikes.
"It comes down to fastball command," John Farrell said. "Even when he's got a couple of guys on base. He hasn't overthrown as we saw maybe back in April. He's turned things around personally this month, that's pretty clear. But he's back to a quick pace but a comfortable one for him and he's commanded his pitches."
It was the third straight win for Miley, improving his record in May to 3-2 with a 2.60 ERA. He's gone at least 6.0 innings in all five starts.
Miley wasn't overpowering hitters, but instead pitching to contact. He said after the game that he and catcher Sandy Leon were on the same page from the beginning. Miley let the defense behind him the rest of the work - and they didn't let him down. In the sevonth inning, Dustin Pedroia stole a single up the middle from David Freese (WATCH), and in the next at-bat Brock Holt snagged a Chris Iannetta grounder (WATCH).
"I didn't think there was no chance Pedroia was getting to that ball up the middle," Miley said. "He makes an acrobatic play. Next pitch I think Brock lays out and makes a play. It's good to know those guys are back there and obviously I knew coming over here they were an unbelievable defense."