#8 10/11/09 – Fenway Park, Boston - 2009 ALDS Game 3

Every time the Angels faced the Boston Red Sox in the postseason, the Sox would find a new way to beat them. It happened in 1986, 2004, 2007, and 2008. As the 2009 playoffs began, the Angels drew the Sox again; but this time was different.

The Angels had spent the season running up a team record 883 runs and a 97-65 record. They’d clinched their division in style, clobbering Texas 11-0. They’d even mounted a franchise record 47 comebacks during the regular season.

In Game 1 of the ALDS, ace John Lackey and Darren Oliver teamed up to pitch a four-hit shutout. Torii Hunter led the Angel attack, hitting a three-run home run in the fifth as the Halos won 5-0.

In Game 2, the Angels mounted another comeback victory, this one a 4-1 job capped by Erick Aybar’s two-run triple in the seventh. Jered Weaver only allowed one run over 7 1/3 innings pitched for the victory.

For Game 3, the Angels traveled to Fenway Park, where they were 2-7 in postseason play. Scott Kazmir started for the Angels, but was roughed up for five runs through six. The Angels, meanwhile, scored two: Kendry Morales on a solo shot in the fourth, and Hunter on a bases loaded double play with nobody out in the sixth. After seven, the Sox led 5-2, and things were looking grim.

In the eighth, Bobby Abreu doubled to lead it off. After Hunter struck out, Vladimir Guerrero drew a walk. Both runners advanced on Morales’s groundout, but now there were two outs, and Boston’s ace closer, Jonathan Papelbon strode in from the bullpen to close it out. In 26 postseason innings, Papelbon hadn’t allowed a single run. Juan Rivera must not have realized it though because he drove his first pitch into right field to cut the deficit to one.

Unfortunately, pinch runner Reggie Willits was picked off first for the final out of the inning. To make matters worse, Boston tagged on another run in the bottom of the inning. Papelbon got two quick outs in the ninth, and the Angels found themselves down to their last out.

Aybar kept them alive with a single to center. Chone Figgins then drew a walk. Abreu doubled again to cut the lead to one as Aybar scampered home. Hunter was walked intentionally to load the bases for Guerrero. Vladi had been the face of the Angels since his MVP season five years earlier. He’d helped the Angels win five divisional titles in six years; but was now hobbled by injuries and age. Nevertheless, Vladi stroked Papelbon’s first delivery into center, scoring both Figgins and Abreu and giving the Angels a 7-6 lead.

Closer Brian Fuentes set the Sox down in order in the bottom of the ninth, securing the Angels’ first and only postseason sweep. To do it against Boston made it especially sweet.