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Red Sox go at it again with Angels at Fenway Park

May 5, 2011 - 2:39 PM (Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim figure to be pretty tired this afternoon when they wrap up their four-game series at Fenway Park.

After losing the first two games of this set and their first six to the Red Sox this season, the Angels pulled out a 5-3 win in 13 innings on Wednesday in a game that also featured a 2 hour and 35 minute rain delay.

"When I showed up today," Boston manager Terry Francona said, "I didn't think I'd be talking to you guys at three in the morning. And if I did, I wish we'd have won."

Bobby Abreu's two-run single off of Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-3) was the difference, as Los Angeles captured just its second win in 17 chances over the Red Sox since the start of last season.

The rain, though, spoiled a terrific outing from Angels starter Ervin Santana, who held the Red Sox hitless and struck out seven in four innings before the game was delayed. He did not return after the lengthy break.

"My focus tonight was amazing," Santana said. "Everything felt great. But I couldn't go back out there after a two-hour delay."

Kevin Youkilis and Jed Lowrie both had a pair of hits for the Red Sox, who scored twice in the ninth to force extra innings, but saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.

Heading to the hill for the Red Sox this afternoon will be former Angel John Lackey, who is 4-0 against his former team with a 2.45 ERA. Lackey beat the Angels on April 24, scattering six hits over eight scoreless innings in his best outing of the year.

Lackey, though, is just 2-3 this season with a 5.65 ERA. However, he has allowed only three runs in his last three starts after surrendering 15 through his first two outings.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, will counter with right-hander Joel Pineiro, who will be making his second start of the season. Pineiro opened the year on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, but was sharp in his season debut on Saturday against Tampa Bay, which managed just a run and four hits in seven innings.

Pineiro has faced the Red Sox 11 times and is 3-6 against them with a 5.94 ERA.

Despite Wednesday's loss Boston has still won 17 of the past 20 games in the series, including eight of 10 and nine of the last 13 in Beantown.