Angels Post-Game Notes: Game 1 ALDS

I know some Angel fans are bit upset about what happened last night and even worried that this "can't beat boston" thing is real.

However, as mad as you might be at Vlad's baserunning blunder, remember that the Angels had 9 hits last night and none of them were for extra bases. It's really hard to win a playoff game without a home run or at least a double.

And don't forget that the Angels beat Boston 8-1 during the regular season, including decisive wins at Fenway Park. So, believe me when I say, one lost game does not make a series.

Here's the team's post-game notes from Wednesday night.

STARTING PITCHERS Notes:
John Lackey: (LOSS; 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 5 SO, 1 HB; 92 pitches/60 strikes)…Longest post-season outing since Game 4 of 2002 ALCS (7 IP)…Winless in last five post-season starts (last win came in Game 7 of 2002 World Series)…Four home runs allowed in his last three playoff outings.

Jon Lester: (WIN; 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO; 117 pitches/76 strikes)…Started second straight playoff game for Red Sox (also Game 4 of 2007 World Series)…Has not allowed an earned run in last 15.2 playoff innings…Is now 3-0 with an 1.10 ERA (16.1 IP – 2 ER) in post-season career.

Angels Notes: Have dropped last eight overall playoff games and last 10 post-season games vs. Boston…Losses in each of last five home playoff games…Angels have been limited to 15 runs in their last nine playoff games (1.7 runs per game)…Are now 0-5 in Game 1 of ALDS all-time…Angels 2-5 hitters were 8-for-15 (.533).

Torii Hunter’s RBI single in the 3rd inning put the Angels up 1-0…Marked Hunter’s 9th career post-season RBI, all coming in division series play…He is now batting .354 (23/65) in the DS in his career (17 games).

Mark Teixeira logged two hits in his first career playoff game.

Red Sox Notes: Have won Game 1 in each of last four playoff series…Riding an eight-game win streak in playoffs to match club record (won last eight games of 2004 post-season)…Have won last 10 playoff games vs. Angels, the longest current playoff win streak vs. one team…Have outscored Angels 23-5 in last four playoff games…Manager Terry Francona is now 23-9 in his playoff career (.719 winning pct. is best all-time for a manager with 20-or-more playoff games managed).

Jacoby Ellsbury tallied three hits tonight and is batting .476 (10/21) over his last five post-season games (tonight and four games of 2007 World Series)…Also stole two bases…RBI single in 9th put Sox up 3-1…Including regular season, he has hit safely in his last 19 games.

Jason Bay’s 2-run shot in the 6th frame put the Red Sox up 2-1…Was his first career post-season hit in his first playoff game…1st Red Sox player to connect for a HR on his first career playoff game since Todd Walker hit two long balls in Game 1 of 2003 ALDS vs. Oakland…7th overall player in Sox history to homer in first career playoff contest…Becomes the 7th native of Canada to homer in a playoff game (Russell Martin was the 6th Canadian native to homer in post-season earlier tonight).

David Ortiz’s RBI single in the 9th was the 39th post-season RBI of his career (most in Red Sox history).

Jonathan Papelbon worked a scoreless 9th to earn his fifth career playoff save (five chances)…Has not allowed a run in his last 15.2 IP in post-season play.