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Drew homer propels Red Sox past Angels again

Oct 4, 2008 - 7:16 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox always find a way to beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim when it counts.

J.D. Drew snapped a tie with a two-run homer off record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth inning as the Red Sox recorded a 7-5 victory over the Angels in Game Two of the American League Division Series on Friday.

Boston grabbed a commanding two-games-to-none lead in the best-of-five series.

"There is no greater feeling as a baseball player to come up with a big hit like that to help the team win," Drew said.

"I got down two strikes and put the barrel to the ball. It was a changeup he left it in and I just squared it up nice enough to get it out of the park, so it worked out well. We go home with a two-game advantage and just have to try and get one more win."

Jason Bay hit a three-run home run in a four-run first and Jacoby Ellsbury drove in a run for the defending world champion Red Sox, who have won 11 straight postseason meetings with the Angels and send ace Josh Beckett to the mound on Sunday with hopes of completing the sweep.

Torii Hunter drove in a pair of runs for Anaheim and suffered a jammed left knee in the third inning but remained in the game.

"This one was a tough one to swallow," Hunter said. "We got to take it one pitch at a time from here on out. I'm frustrated and pretty ticked right now ... My knee is a little sore, but trust me I'm going to play (Sunday). Adrenaline is my pain and I'm a gamer."

Mark Teixeira and Mike Napoli also drove in runs for the Angels, who left 11 runners on base. Anaheim fell behind early but rallied to tie the game at 5-5 in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Teixeira. Chone Figgins sparked the rally with a leadoff triple off Justin Masterson, the Angels' first extra-base hit of the series.

"We did a good job battling back and never quit, but right now our backs are against the wall," Teixeira said. "We just need to put these two games behind us and go out and get a win Sunday."

Jonathan Papelbon (1-0) allowed the sacrifice fly but tossed the final two innings for the win.

David Ortiz led off the ninth with a double and, one out later, Drew deposited a changeup from Rodriguez (0-1) over the right-center field wall. It was the first home run since July 26 for Drew, who had been limited to just four at-bats since August 18 due to a herniated disk in his back.

Papelbon tossed a perfect ninth that was aided by a great leaning catch near the railing by third baseman Kevin Youkilis on a foul pop-up by Reggie Willits.

It was a night of missed opportunities for Anaheim. Of the 11 runners left on base, six were stranded in scoring position.

The Angels still are searching for their first postseason win over the Red Sox since 1986. But Red Sox manager Terry Francona downplayed the significance of the winning streak.

"Winning 11 against the Angels is so far in the past, and in about 10 minutes tonight will be in the past," he said. "What happened in 2004 and 1986 doesn't matter to us. We set out to win today's game. It was difficult, but we did it."

"(I) just tell the guys that we have a challenge," Mike Scioscia said. "This game ain't over until somebody wins three games, it's the type of series. They're down, (but) we go into Boston, win a game and the pressure is back on them."

While Anaheim could not come up with timely hits, Boston had no problem doing so. The Red Sox scored all four of their runs in the first with two outs, with Bay capping the outburst with his second home run of the series - a three-run shot to center field off Ervin Santana.

"I just go out and try to keep my normal routine and treat it like any other game," Bay said. "I managed to get a good pitch to hit and squared it up. I just try to go up there and move runners over or help the team anyway I can."

Hunter cut the deficit to 4-1 with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame, but Ellsbury's double in the fourth plated Alex Cora and restored the four-run bulge.

Figgins' run-scoring single in the fourth made it 5-2, and Hunter drove in a run in the fifth with a base hit.

The Angels had a prime opportunity to take the lead in the seventh, but once again failed to come through in the clutch.

Teixeira led off the frame with a single off Hideki Okajima and Vladimir Guerrero followed suit. Justin Masterson relieved Okajima and allowed a sacrifice fly by Hunter before striking out Howie Kendrick but walked pinch hitter Mike Napoli to force in a run that drew Anaheim within 5-4.

However, that was all the Angels would get as Masterson struck out Erick Aybar to avoid further damage.

"I came up with guys on base and just didn't get the job done," said Kendrick, who stranded five runners. "We had our chances to put runs on the board and didn't get that hit when we needed to."

Neither starter was particularly effective. Daisuke Matsuzaka labored through five innings, allowing three runs and eight hits while throwing 108 pitches.

Meanwhile, Santana surrendered five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 frames.