Projo Sox Blog

Manny who?

On the same night Manny Ramirez added to his major-league record for postseason home runs with a solo blast in the Dodgers' NLDS victory at Wrigley Field, the man who replaced him in Boston -- Jason Bay -- staked his claim for some playoff glory of his own.

Bay blasted a long two-out, two-run home run to left field in the top of the sixth inning Wednesday night, giving the Red Sox a 2-1 lead and sparking them to a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Game One of their ALDS matchup.

The homer scored Kevin Youkilis, who had walked with one out.

Bay had struck out on curveballs against John Lackey in each of his first two at-bats, but hit a curve for the homer.

Handed the lead by Bay, Jon Lester responded the way almost every pitcher wants to repond: He struck out the side in the bottom of the sixth and then retired the side in order again in the bottom of the seventh.

Lester was lifted after seven innings, in which he allowed six hits and one unearned run, with one walk and seven strikeouts. Manager Terry Francona showed his faith in Justin Masterson by employing him as the bridge to Jonathan Papelbon, and the rookie came through . . . albeit with a little help from his friends.

Jacoby Ellsbury made a highlight-reel diving catch of a sinking liner by leadoff hitter Mark Teixeira in center field for the first out. Vladimir Guerrero followed with a single, and Torii Hunter then blooped a soft liner just past the outstretched Youkilis in short right field.

Guerrero, however, tried to go to third. Youkilis recovered the ball quickly, leaped to his feet and fired a strike to Mike Lowell at third that nailed Guerrero by 15 feet for the second out.

Masterson then won a long battle with Howie Kendrick by inducing him to ground to shortstop for the final out.

The Red Sox scored two insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Jed Lowrie singled, was bunted to second by Jason Varitek, and rode home on a single to right by Ellsbury. Ellsbury then stole second and scored on a two-out single by David Ortiz.

Papelbon came in and closed it out with a scoreless ninth, giving the Red Sox their 10th consecutive postseason win over the Angels, dating back to 1986. It was also their eighth consecutive postseason win overall, dating back to Game Five of last year's ALCS.

Lester was betrayed by his defense in the third inning and it put the Red Sox in an early hole.

With two outs and a runner on first in the bottom of the third, Lowrie booted a potential inning-ending grounder by Guerrero. Hunter followed with what looked like a catchable line drive to left field, but Bay pulled up at the last second and let the ball drop at his feet. That allowed Garret Anderson, who had singled, to score from second and give Los Angeles of Anaheim a 1-0 lead.

Lester had escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first by retiring Kendrick on a grounder to third, and he ended the third by once again getting Kendrick to ground to Mike Lowell.

The 2-3-4-5 hitters in the Los Angeles of Anaheim lineup -- Anderson, Teixeira, Guerrero and Hunter -- were a combined 6-for-11 with a walk through the first five innings, but Lester continually got the key outs when he needed them. The Angels stranded seven (three in the first, two each in the third and fifth) through the first five.

The Red Sox squandered a leadoff double by Ellsbury in the first, and didn't score after getting two on with two out in the third. They stranded five runners in the first five innings against Lackey.

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