ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Dustin Pedroia came through with another big homer against Huston Street. He almost didn’t have the chance.

Pedroia hit a go-ahead, three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning and Xander Bogaerts followed with a solo shot to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Los Angeles Angels 5-3 Sunday.

Boston's Dustin Pedroia, center, celebrates with Mookie Betts, left, after hitting a three-run home run to put them ahead of the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning Sunday in Anaheim, California. The Red Sox held on to win 5-3. AP photo

Street (3-2) entered with a 3-0 lead, walked Jackie Bradley Jr. and allowed Aaron Hill’s single. After a pair of strikeouts, Mookie Betts singled in a run and Pedroia homered to center on a 1-0 slider as Mike Trout climbed the center-field fence in vain.

But Pedroia wouldn’t even have been up to bat in the ninth had Red Sox manager John Farrell not come out to help him argue a called third strike in the fourth inning. Angels starter Tyler Skaggs looped a curveball high and outside for strike three and Pedroia immediately argued the call with home plate umpire Gabe Morales. Knowing how short-tempered Pedroia is, Farrell came out to finish the argument with crew chief Joe West and was quickly ejected.

“I just said, ‘I’m only 5-foot-7, I’m going to need a trampoline to hit that ball,”‘ Pedroia said. “He was really good and had a good curveball all day. He didn’t need any help.”

Pedroia hit his second go-ahead homer in the ninth inning or later. The other was a tiebreaking, two-run drive off Street in the 10th inning of a 13-11 win at Colorado on June 24, 2010.

“We didn’t have much going until the final inning and a couple of big swings from Petey and Bogey to get us to that spot in the ninth,” Farrell said. “We found a way to dig a little deeper before the 27th out was recorded. A big inning — much needed — particularly to salvage a split in the series and to keep pace with where we are in this race.”

Bogaerts fell behind 0-2 in the count, then homered on another slider from Street, who blew a save for the third time in 12 chances.

“The Pedroia pitch, it just wasn’t very sharp, it just kind of rolled in there,” Street said. “The right location I wanted to throw it in, just wasn’t very sharp. Then after the homer, I thought I had (Bogaerts) and I just made a mistake. … It’s a terrible day and I’m frustrated by it. Only thing I can do is wake up tomorrow.”

On the two-year anniversary of tearing his ulnar collateral ligament, Skaggs made just his second appearance since returning from Tommy John surgery and was on track for the win after five 1/3 scoreless innings.

“Got to get the first batter out of the way, but other than that it was a great performance,” Skaggs said. “I think the curveball was the key for me today. I threw it early and I threw it often, I threw it for a strike, I bounced it when I wanted to. It was a huge pitch for me.”

Clay Buchholz (4-9) pitched three scoreless innings, and Brad Ziegler got three outs for his 20th save in 23 opportunities.

Knuckleballer Steven Wright allowed his first four batters to reach but didn’t allow a run thanks to two alert plays he made.

Yunel Escobar tried to score from second on Trout’s single but stumbled past the plate as left fielder Bryce Brentz’s throw got away from catcher Ryan Hanigan. Wright picked up the ball and tagged Escobar for the inning’s first out.

After Albert Pujols’ single put runners at the corners, Aldrelton Simmons struck out out as the ball bounced off Hanigan’s glove and went to the backstop. The catcher then threw to the plate, where Wright tagged out Kole Calhoun.

Wright took a ground ball from Trout off of his left forearm in the third but remained in the game. The Angels went ahead in the fifth on Trout’s RBI single, Pujols’ run-scoring grounder and Jefry Marte’s run-scoring single.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: INF Cliff Pennington will be activated in time for Tuesday’s series opener against the Oakland Athletics. Pennington was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 1, with a right hamstring strain. … RHP Nick Tropeano will get another evaluation on his torn ulnar collateral ligament at home in New York. The West Islip native is still weighing conservative options before deciding whether or to have Tommy John surgery.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-4) is to make his first career appearance against Seattle on Monday. In three starts since his July 16 recall, Rodriguez is 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA.

Angels: RHP Matt Shoemaker (5-11) starts Tuesday against Oakland. He is 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA in three starts against the Athletics this season.

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