Red Sox (Jon Lester) @ Angels (John Lackey) 9:37 pm ET, TBS/WEEI
Jon Lester vs. the Angels
2009 against Los Angeles
Did not pitch against the Angels this season
John Lackey vs. the Red Sox
2009 against Boston
Sept 15th 7.2ip 8h 3r 2er 6k 3bb (L)
Inside the series
Head to head
Angels won the season series 5-4 over the Red Sox.
How they got here
Boston
95-67. The Red Sox won the American League Wild Card for the 5th time in 7 seasons and fourth under manager Terry Francona. This is the sixth postseason appearance in the last 7 years for the Red Sox.
Los Angeles
97-65. The Angels won their 5th American League Western Division Title in 6 years. It is the 8th AL West Title in franchise history and fifth under manager Mike Scioscia.
Playoff history with Los Angeles
2008
For the second consecutive year and third time in five years the Red Sox and Angels squared off in the American League Division Series. The 100 win Angels were favored to finally get past the Red Sox. Many thought this was an Angels team that seemed destined for the World Series. But the Red Sox had other plans. Game 1 featured a pair of aces in the Red Sox Jon Lester matched up against the Angel's Jon Lackey. The Angels had a 1-0 lead through 5 innings before Jason Bay hit a 2 run home run off Lackey to take the lead. The Sox tacked onto the lead with 2 more runs in the 9th and then Jonathan Papelbon closed the door in Game 1 by striking out the side. In Game 2, the Red Sox jumped all over Ervin Santana after Jason Bay hit a 3 run home run as the Red Sox lead 4-0 before the Angels even came to bat. The Angels chipped away and the scored remained tied into the 9th before JD Drew hit a tie breaking two run home run off Francisco Rodriguez deep into the California night. Papelbon retired the Angels in order in the bottom of the 9th and the Red Sox headed back east with a 2-0 series lead. In Game 3, Angels edged the Red Sox 5-4 in 12 innings after Erik Aybar singled home Mike Napoli with the lead run. In Game 4, the Red Sox got another great start from Jon Lester going 7 shutout innings before the bullpen failed to hold down the lead. With the score tied at two in the 9th the Angels Kendry Morales doubled to lead off the inning. With Reggie Willits pinch running the Angels sacrificed him to third. With Aybar up at the plate, Angels manager called for a suicide squeeze play that Aybar botched when he failed to make contact. Willits got caught in a run down with Varitek tagging him out. In the bottom of the 9th the Red Sox got a one out ground rule double by Jason Bay off of Scot Shields. After Mark Kotsay lined out hard to first, Jed Lowrie came up and hit the first pitch he saw for a single to right field scoring Jason Bay and sending the Red Sox to the ALCS for the third time in five years.
2007
Boston once again swept the Angels 3 games to none in the American League Division Series. The Red Sox, after sweeping Los Angeles have won 9 straight postseason games against the Angels dating back to 1986 ALCS. In Game 1, Josh Beckett pitched a complete game 4 hit shutout as the Red Sox beat the Angels 4-0. David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis each hit home runs. In Game 2 the Red Sox won in dramatic fashion when with the game tied at 3 apiece, Angels manager Mike Scioscia intentionally walked David Ortiz to pitch to Manny Ramirez. Ramirez then crushed a 3 run home run deep into the Fenway night off closer Francisco Rodriguez giving the Red Sox a 6-3 win and a 2-0 series lead heading to the coast. In Game 3, Curt Schilling pitched 7 shutout innings while the offense exploded in the 8th inning to run away with a 9-1 win and a series sweep of the Angels.
2004
Red Sox swept Angels 3 games to none in American League Division Series. Boston took the first 2 games in Anaheim by the scores of 9-3 and 8-3 behind the strong pitching of Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez. The Red Sox completed the 3 game sweep with a 10 inning win when David Ortiz hit a 2 run walk off homerun over the monster to win the series.
1986
A memorable series that will always be remembered throughout Red Sox nation. The Red Sox and Angels split game 1 and 2 in Boston with California winning the first game 8-1 while Boston evened the series up with a 9-2 win behind a complete game win for Bruce Hurst. The Angels won game 3 back at the Big A 5-3 and won Game 4 in 11 innings 4-3. The Angels now had a commanding 3 games to 1 lead. In Game 5 the Angels had a 5-2 lead in the 9th inning. Billy Buckner led off the inning with a single. Jim Rice struck out against Mike Witt. The next hitter, Don Baylor homered to deep left to cut the lead to 5-4. Dwight Evans then popped out to thirdbase. Angels manager Gene Mauch then brought on lefty Gary Lucas to face Rich Gedman and he immediately hit Gedman with a pitch. Mauch then brought on closer Donnie Moore to face Dave Henderson. Moore got ahead of Henderson in the count. With Angels fans streaming the aisles getting ready to storm the field to celebrate the Angels first pennant, Dave Henderson smacked a 2-run homerun into the California sunset to give the Red Sox a stunning 6-5 lead. The Angels tied the game in the bottom of the 9th but in the 11th, Dave Henderson once again played the hero as he hit a sacafice fly to score Don Baylor with the winning run. The Angels were devasted and now had to travel back to Boston where they lost Game 6 by the score of 10-4 and Game 7, 8-1 behind staff ace Roger Clemens dominant pitching to capture the American League Pennant.
Jon Lester vs. the Angels
2009 against Los Angeles
Did not pitch against the Angels this season
John Lackey vs. the Red Sox
2009 against Boston
Sept 15th 7.2ip 8h 3r 2er 6k 3bb (L)
Inside the series
Head to head
Angels won the season series 5-4 over the Red Sox.
How they got here
Boston
95-67. The Red Sox won the American League Wild Card for the 5th time in 7 seasons and fourth under manager Terry Francona. This is the sixth postseason appearance in the last 7 years for the Red Sox.
Los Angeles
97-65. The Angels won their 5th American League Western Division Title in 6 years. It is the 8th AL West Title in franchise history and fifth under manager Mike Scioscia.
Playoff history with Los Angeles
2008
For the second consecutive year and third time in five years the Red Sox and Angels squared off in the American League Division Series. The 100 win Angels were favored to finally get past the Red Sox. Many thought this was an Angels team that seemed destined for the World Series. But the Red Sox had other plans. Game 1 featured a pair of aces in the Red Sox Jon Lester matched up against the Angel's Jon Lackey. The Angels had a 1-0 lead through 5 innings before Jason Bay hit a 2 run home run off Lackey to take the lead. The Sox tacked onto the lead with 2 more runs in the 9th and then Jonathan Papelbon closed the door in Game 1 by striking out the side. In Game 2, the Red Sox jumped all over Ervin Santana after Jason Bay hit a 3 run home run as the Red Sox lead 4-0 before the Angels even came to bat. The Angels chipped away and the scored remained tied into the 9th before JD Drew hit a tie breaking two run home run off Francisco Rodriguez deep into the California night. Papelbon retired the Angels in order in the bottom of the 9th and the Red Sox headed back east with a 2-0 series lead. In Game 3, Angels edged the Red Sox 5-4 in 12 innings after Erik Aybar singled home Mike Napoli with the lead run. In Game 4, the Red Sox got another great start from Jon Lester going 7 shutout innings before the bullpen failed to hold down the lead. With the score tied at two in the 9th the Angels Kendry Morales doubled to lead off the inning. With Reggie Willits pinch running the Angels sacrificed him to third. With Aybar up at the plate, Angels manager called for a suicide squeeze play that Aybar botched when he failed to make contact. Willits got caught in a run down with Varitek tagging him out. In the bottom of the 9th the Red Sox got a one out ground rule double by Jason Bay off of Scot Shields. After Mark Kotsay lined out hard to first, Jed Lowrie came up and hit the first pitch he saw for a single to right field scoring Jason Bay and sending the Red Sox to the ALCS for the third time in five years.
2007
Boston once again swept the Angels 3 games to none in the American League Division Series. The Red Sox, after sweeping Los Angeles have won 9 straight postseason games against the Angels dating back to 1986 ALCS. In Game 1, Josh Beckett pitched a complete game 4 hit shutout as the Red Sox beat the Angels 4-0. David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis each hit home runs. In Game 2 the Red Sox won in dramatic fashion when with the game tied at 3 apiece, Angels manager Mike Scioscia intentionally walked David Ortiz to pitch to Manny Ramirez. Ramirez then crushed a 3 run home run deep into the Fenway night off closer Francisco Rodriguez giving the Red Sox a 6-3 win and a 2-0 series lead heading to the coast. In Game 3, Curt Schilling pitched 7 shutout innings while the offense exploded in the 8th inning to run away with a 9-1 win and a series sweep of the Angels.
2004
Red Sox swept Angels 3 games to none in American League Division Series. Boston took the first 2 games in Anaheim by the scores of 9-3 and 8-3 behind the strong pitching of Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez. The Red Sox completed the 3 game sweep with a 10 inning win when David Ortiz hit a 2 run walk off homerun over the monster to win the series.
1986
A memorable series that will always be remembered throughout Red Sox nation. The Red Sox and Angels split game 1 and 2 in Boston with California winning the first game 8-1 while Boston evened the series up with a 9-2 win behind a complete game win for Bruce Hurst. The Angels won game 3 back at the Big A 5-3 and won Game 4 in 11 innings 4-3. The Angels now had a commanding 3 games to 1 lead. In Game 5 the Angels had a 5-2 lead in the 9th inning. Billy Buckner led off the inning with a single. Jim Rice struck out against Mike Witt. The next hitter, Don Baylor homered to deep left to cut the lead to 5-4. Dwight Evans then popped out to thirdbase. Angels manager Gene Mauch then brought on lefty Gary Lucas to face Rich Gedman and he immediately hit Gedman with a pitch. Mauch then brought on closer Donnie Moore to face Dave Henderson. Moore got ahead of Henderson in the count. With Angels fans streaming the aisles getting ready to storm the field to celebrate the Angels first pennant, Dave Henderson smacked a 2-run homerun into the California sunset to give the Red Sox a stunning 6-5 lead. The Angels tied the game in the bottom of the 9th but in the 11th, Dave Henderson once again played the hero as he hit a sacafice fly to score Don Baylor with the winning run. The Angels were devasted and now had to travel back to Boston where they lost Game 6 by the score of 10-4 and Game 7, 8-1 behind staff ace Roger Clemens dominant pitching to capture the American League Pennant.
