• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Beckett, Red Sox try to finish off sweep of Angels

Oct 5, 2008 - 2:26 PM American League Division Series Red Sox Lead 2-0

LA Angels at Boston, 7:27 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- This is basically what the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were trying to avoid all along - an elimination game with the imposing specter of Josh Beckett staring them down.

Home-field advantage was supposed to counteract that potential situation. As were the high-profile, big-money acquisitions designed to bolster an offense that lacked postseason punch. And the history-making closer.

Instead, all those supposed advantages turned sour in the first two games of the Angels' American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox in Anaheim. Now, they've not only seen their home-field edge go up in smoke, but can only hope to live another day if they can beat Beckett - Boston's resident playoff wizard - in Sunday's Game Three at Fenway Park.

"It's tough when you're 0-2, but we have a lot of confidence that we're going to play well and (then) we're in this series," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "All it takes is one good inning that translates into one win and now the pressure's back on the other team."

Beckett (12-10, 4.03 ERA), who was scratched from Game One with a strained right oblique, now gets the chance to close out the series. Not that this is anything new between these teams - the Red Sox swept the Angels in the first round in both 2004 and 2007 on their way to world championships.

Last year, the Angels could barely touch Beckett in Game One of the ALDS, as the ace righthander tossed a four-hitter in a 4-0 victory that set the tone for the rest of the series.

"I think a lot of it has to do with opportunity, (being) put into situations to succeed," Beckett said of his playoff prowess. "You take advantage of them. A lot of it comes down to preparation and being put in that opportunity."

This year was supposed to be different. The Angels were the top team in the American League for most of the season, eventually clinching home field with a 100-62 record.

The offense, long a sticking point for the club even during its best years, finally added some pop with the free-agent signing of Torii Hunter and the midseason trade for Mark Teixeira. And as a final measure of security, there was Francisco Rodriguez, who set a single-season MLB record with 62 saves.

All that optimism the Angels earned over the last six months disappeared this week. The Red Sox treated Angel Stadium like their home away from home. Teixeira and Vladimir Guerrero combined to go 11-for-16, sure - but all 11 hits were singles. Not exactly formidable production from a 3-4 combo. In fact, the Angels' only extra-base hit of the series came courtesy of soft-hitting leadoff man Chone Figgins.

And then there's Rodriguez. After serving up Manny Ramirez's walk-off, three-run homer in Game Two last season, he was the goat once again a year later. J.D. Drew broke a 5-5 tie in the ninth with a two-run homer off Rodriguez that proved to be the game-winner.

"We haven't seen what won us 100 games out there. We haven't seen our team on the field. That's what's been frustrating for us," Scioscia said. "Boston's played two terrific ballgames. They set up games the way they want to. They hold leads and have gotten to the big guys in the back of the bullpen that have done the job. That's the way we'd like to play and set our games up, and we haven't quite been able to get there."

Now all the Red Sox have to do is win one game at home, where they won 56 games during the regular season - second-best in baseball behind only the Tampa Bay Rays. Beckett appears ready to go after having his start pushed back four days, and that has to make the Red Sox breathe easier - the veteran righthander has been as dominant in the postseason over the last few years as anyone in baseball.

At 28, he's already got two World Series rings - and it's safe to say neither club (the 2003 Florida Marlins and last year's Red Sox) would have been able to do it without him. In 10 career playoff appearances, including nine starts, Beckett is 6-2 with a 1.73 ERA. He has allowed just 40 hits in 72 2/3 innings. In divisional series alone, he has given up just one run in 16 innings.

"The stage or the size of the game, he doesn't shrink from that," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "I think he looks forward to that challenge. He has pitched some unbelievable games, not just in the postseason, but in all, during all of his seasons. But when you get to the postseason, he has been some kind of pitcher."

To the Angels' credit, they beat up on Beckett this season. In two meetings against them, he went 0-2 with a hefty 7.43 ERA. Then again, the Angels also dominated the Red Sox all year, going 8-1 during the regular season - and just look where that's gotten them.

The Angels' fate is in the hands of lefthander Joe Saunders (17-7, 3.41), who will try to do what ace righthanders John Lackey and Ervin Santana couldn't - and do so in his first-ever postseason start. Saunders beat the Red Sox both times he saw them this year, but will now have to face a peaking offense that averaged 5.7 runs and hit .292 at home this season.

"