The Boston Red Sox had knocked the Angels out of the playoffs in their previous four meeting, and Jonathan Papelbon had not given up an earned run in 26 postseason innings. So Red Sox fans must have felt confident with Papelbon entering game 3 in the ninth inning with a lead over the Angels. But this time, Papelbon and the Red Sox came up short, as Vladimir Guerrero came up with the big hit to drive in two runs, sending Papelbon to the showers and ultimately sending the Red Sox home for the winter. As Papelbon was walking off the field, he heard a chorus of boos from the classless Red Sox fans.
Category: MLB (Page 164 of 448)
T.J. Simers, L.A. Times: This is why [Torre] gave it another run after a disappointing finish in New York, why he travels from city to city, 162 games in 180 days at age 69, still amazed at what young people can do when given the opportunity and a little direction. “Different contributions,” he says, and he says it over and over as he shakes off the champagne chill, the reward for sweeping the Cardinals in the NL division series. He’s still talking about Casey Blake’s amazing at-bat in Game 2, Manny Ramirez coming up huge with two out not once but twice in Game 3, “this amazing kid here” in Andre Ethier, and Vicente Padilla living up to the faith Torre has put in him.
Joe Strauss, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “I don’t like the stigma attached to being swept — but that’s what happened,” La Russa said upon exiting his office more than an hour after the loss. “The series was more competitive than that. But that’s what it is.” The Dodgers, who finished with the league’s top record but lost five of seven to the Cardinals during the season, emerged after handing Chris Carpenter his roughest start of the season in Game 1 and then exploiting left fielder Matt Holliday’s ninth-inning error in Game 2. Saturday’s win was more thorough, as they jumped Cardinals starter Joel Piñeiro for four early runs and never offered an opening to a struggling offense.”They came out on fire, and we didn’t,” Piñeiro said. The sweep concluded a stretch in which the Cardinals lost 11 of their last 13 while futilely searching for an offensive spark.
Mark Teixeira has the city of New York in a frenzy after his dramatic walk-off home run last night in Game 2 for the Yankees vs the Twins. Yankee fans have been very frustrated in recent years as a result of collapses in the postseason, so they’re giddy with excitement at the prospect of a high-priced player who can live up to the hype in the playoffs. Even C.C. Sabathia got off to a great start in game one. Who knows, maybe even A-Rod will get into the act. We’ll see in the next round when they face a better team.
What’s on TV this weekend?
MLB
Fri, 6:07 PM: Twins @ Yankees – TBS (NYY lead, 1-0)
Fri, 9:37 PM: Red Sox @ Angels – TBS (LAA lead, 1-0)
Sat, 6:07 PM: Dodgers @ Cardinals – TBS (LAD lead, 2-0)
Sat, 9:37 PM: Phillies @ Rockies – TBS (series tied, 1-1)
Sun, 12:07 PM: Angels @ Red Sox – TBS
Sun, 3:37 PM: Dodgers @ Cardinals – TBS
Sun, 7:07 PM: Yankees @ Twins – TBS
Sun, 10:07 PM: Phillies @ Rockies – TBS
NFL
Sun, 1 PM: Bengals @ Ravens – CBS
Sun, 4:05 PM: Falcons @ 49ers – FOX
Sun, 4:15 PM: Patriots @ Broncos – CBS
Sun, 8:20 PM: Colts @ Titans – NBC
Mon, 8:30 PM: Jets @ Dolphins – ESPN
CFB
Sat, 3:30 PM: #3 Alabama @ #20 LSU – CBS
Sat, 3:30 PM: Wisconsin @ #9 Ohio St. – ABC
Sat, 8 PM: #1 Florida @ #4 LSU – CBS
NHL
Sat, 10 PM: Canadiens @ Oilers – CBC
John Lackey shut out the Red Sox for 7 2/3 innings on Thursday night as the Angels beat the Red Sox 5-0 in Game 1 of the ALDS.
Lackey delivered 22 outs, and Hunter produced the thunder, his three-run fifth-inning homer against Jon Lester providing the impetus behind a 5-0 victory over the Red Sox in front of 45,070 at Angel Stadium.
After the Angels expanded their lead with a pair of seventh-inning runs on Kendry Morales’ RBI single and a throwing error by left fielder Jason Bay, Lackey departed with one out in the eighth, raising his cap to a roaring crowd.
It’s the first postseason win at home by the Angels since Game 5 of the 2005 ALDS against the Yankees. It is also the first time the Angels have held a series lead against Boston — which eliminated them from the past two postseasons — since they took a 3-2 ALCS advantage into Fenway Park in 1986 after their fateful Game 5 demise in Anaheim.
Taking a series lead against the Red Sox was big given that it had become a mental block for the Halos to overcome. This win should give them confidence heading into Game 2 and while traveling to Boston still might be an issue, right now the Angels have the momentum and everything is in place for them to build on it.
For those unaware of Kendry Morales – get aware. He’s one of the rising hitters in the game and he’s coming off a solid regular season, especially in the second half. Players like Hunter are going to get more recognition, but if the Halos make a World Series run, I guarantee a guy like Morales will play a big part.
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