Recap: LA Angels vs. Boston
Sports Network | October 04, 2008
Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - J.D. Drew's two-run home run off star closer Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth inning broke a tie game, as the Boston Red Sox continued their postseason dominance over the LA Angels of Anaheim with a 7-5 victory in Game 2 off their American League Division Series clash.
The victory gives Boston a stranglehold on the best-of-five series, as they take a 2-0 lead back to Boston when the series resumes on Sunday. It was the Red Sox's 11th straight postseason win over the Angels, the most consecutive playoff victories over one opponent in MLB history.
After a Mark Teixeira sacrifice fly tied the game, 5-5, in the eighth, David Ortiz opened the ninth with a deep shot to right. Reggie Willits timed his jump at the right field wall perfectly but couldn't come down with the ball. Ortiz ended up on second and was pulled for pinch-runner Coco Crisp, who was nearly picked off by Rodriguez with one away.
Drew then stepped in and crushed a 2-2 changeup that barely cleared the extended wall in right-center for a 7-5 lead.
Jonathan Papelbon (1-0) recorded the final six outs to get the win for Boston, which has won nine straight postseason games overall. Papelbon extended his career postseason scoreless streak to 17 2/3 innings in 11 appearances.
Drew, who was suffering from a lower back strain before the series, finished 3-for-5 with three RBI, while Jason Bay chipped in a three-run homer during his three-hit effort for Sox, who are attempting to become the first back-to- back World Series champions since the Yankees took the title in 1999 and 2000.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, who was undefeated in 13 starts on the road in the regular season, struggled through five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and three walks to go with five strikeouts.
Rodriguez (0-1) shattered the major league record with 62 saves this season but was saddled with the loss behind Ervin Santana, who battled back after a rough first inning to allow five runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Teixeira and Vladimir Guerrero each had three hits for the Angels, who hit just 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position while stranding 11 total runners. Torii Hunter finished 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI for LA, which has dropped nine straight playoff games overall.
