Torii Hunter’s three-run home run in the fifth broke a scoreless deadlock and propelled the Angels to a 5-0 shut out over the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Thursday night.
Anaheim took the lead in a playoff series with the Red Sox for the first time since 1986, as starter John Lackey recorded his first postseason victory since Game 7 of the 2002 World Series and helped the Angels to their first shutout in a 53 postseason games.
It seems like deja vuos as the Red Sox and Angels meet for the third straight time in a divisional series and the fourth time in the last six seasons. Anaheim is 1-9 in their last 10 postseason appearances against Boston, scoring just 29 runs. Will they finally be able to beat the Red Sox?
The Angels took the season series 5-4 from the Red Sox, holding them to about 4.5 runs per game while scoring about five runs per game.
This should prove to be an exciting series as these two teams could not be more evenly matched.
The two clubs differ by just two points in OBP, but the Angels batting average is 15 points higher, and they have outscored the Red Sox. However, Boston’s SLG comes in at .184 compared to .156 for Anaheim. Boston scored 331 runs on homers, second in the American League behind the New York Yankees.
The series will come down to how deep into the game the Angels’ starters will pitch. Anaheim has four starters that are on top of their game but have a combined 1-3 record with a 4.10 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in their post-season history versus Boston. They will also need all four starters to complete seven innings, minimizing the Angel’s bullpen weakness. The Halos just don’t have the depth that Boston has. The Red Sox are coming into the series with a bullpen whose ERA was 0.69 runs better than the Anaheim. They rank third in runs allowed per game, and give up a low number of unearned runs. The Red Sox bullpen strikes out a ton of batters, and they allow few home runs. Something the Angels may have problems with. But with only to quality starters, Lester and Beckett, the remaining rotation is not capable of going the distance, and will force Boston to overwork their pen early in the ballgame.
With a career record of 8-8 against the Red Sox, Jered Weaver (16-8) will get the call for the Angels in Game 2. Boston righty Josh Beckett (17-6), who is also 8-8 lifetime against Anaheim, will be summoned to help even the series before heading back to Fenway for Game 3 on Sunday.
Despite losing Game 1, the odds makers have the Red Sox at –1.5 favorites and a combined total of 8.
Look for the Angles to power their way to another win in Game 2 on Friday at Anaheim to move ahead in the series 2-0.
Martz is a sports writer for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
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