Sports Redux: Go West, Young Angels

We wanted the Red Sox to keep that door wedged shut against the Angels on Sunday night, but those pesky California types managed to crack the door open a smidge. While the team threatened again during Game 4 activity at Fenway Park on Monday night, the Red Sox, led by Heroes of the Night Jon Lester and Jed Lowrie, slammed the door shut with a 3-2 walkoff victory, putting a sudden end to a huge Angels season. Anaheim's sensational season is admirable, but it was Boston who got the three October victories that counted and earned the right to keep the postseason party raging on the Fenway grass.

Young Lowrie will be heralded today for putting the exclamation point on the night - a two-out walk-off RBI single to right field that led to a shrieking roar from the Fenway crowd and a stampede of teammates to first base. The RBI gave the Sox the win after the team gave up a two-run cushion in the eighth inning and the Angels put the suicide in the squeeze at the top of nine.

But it was once again Jon Lester who brought the division title within grasp. Lester (7 innings, 4 hits, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks) was nothing less than magical on Monday night as he and John Lackey (7 innings, 7 hits, 1 strikeout, 1 walk) competed in a fine October pitchers' duel. Monday's starter on either side relieved their depleted bullpens greatly, and Boston tapped Hideki Okajima, Justin Masterson and gamewinner Manny Delcarmen to get the job done.

The other huge relief on Monday? Dustin Pedroia snapped that hitless streak with a clutch RBI double in the fifth. Let's all breathe a sigh of relief and focus on that, rather than the fact that our 2007 MVP has been broken by the season too much for the impending ALCS against Tampa Bay.

Speaking of those Rays: Friday night, 8:37 pm. Get your rest now and then dive back in for Round Two.

Photo by flickr user chipgriffin