Vladimir Guerrero hit a key 8th inning home run off of Hideki Okajima to help the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to a 5-4 win over the Boston Red Sox in front of 38,076 on Easter Sunday at Angel Stadium.
The game wasn’t without fireworks though as Josh Beckett and Bobby Abreu got into a little dust up in the 1st inning.
After Angels starter Dustin Moseley set the Red Sox quietly in the top half of the 1st, Chone Figgins led off with a single off of Beckett. With Howie Kendrick at the plate, Figgins stole second before flying out to left. Beckett was taking a lot of time going to the plate with Figgins at second. Just as Beckett was going to throw the pitch, Abreu and the home plate umpire called time.
Beckett let the throw go and it almost hit Abreu in the head and he took exception to that. Abreu started jawing with Beckett and then the benches emptied. After things settled down, more words were exchanged and the benches emptied once again. Once everything was all said and done, Beckett and Abreu stayed in the game while Angels skipper Mike Scioscia, bench coach Mickey Hatcher, reliever Justin Speier and Torii Hunter were ejected (video to follow later).
Beckett wasn’t as dominant as he was in first start this season. He went 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5 to fall to 1-1 on the young season. Manny Delcarmen went 2/3 of an inning giving up a hit and a strikeout. Javier Lopez finished off the inning for Declarmen and Okajima went an inning allowing the big blow by Vlad while striking out 1.
Moseley went 5 2/3 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3. Brian Fuentes finished it off the Angels giving up a run on 2 hits for his second save of the season.
Kevin Youkilis had another multiple hit gamewith 2 that included a solo home run. David Ortiz had 2 hits and an RBI while Nick Green had 2 hits in his first start of the season. Jason Bay homered for the second consecutive day as well.
Youk got things going for the Red Sox when he led off with a solo home run off of Moseley. Bay followed that with a solo home run of his own and just like that the Red Sox were up 2-0.
Juan Rivera led off the 3rd with a strikeout and then Macier Izturis singled. Beckett then walked Figgins and Kendrick brought in Izturis with a single with both runners advancing up 90 feet on the throw home. Abreu got his revenge as he hit a 2-run single to put the Halos up 3-2. Beckett got out of any further damage by getting Vlad and Gary Matthews, Jr. to ground out.
Izturis led off the 5th with a single and went to second on a balk by Beckett. Figgins struck out but Kendrick brought him home with a single. Kendrick was thrown out at second trying to advance to second on the throw.
Pedroia led off the 6th with a single. After a Big Papi strikeout, Youk reached on a throwing error by Izturis with Pedroia stopping at second. After a Drew flyout and with Bay at the plate, the Red Sox executed a double steal and Pedroia ended up scoring when Mike Napoli’s throw went into the outfield. Bay ended up being intentionally walked and that ended Moseley’s day. Jose Arrendondo came in and struck out Mike Lowell.
The Red Sox blew a chance to get some runs in the 8th inning.
Scot Shields walked Big Papi and Youk to start the inning. After a Drew fly out, Bay worked a walk to load up the bases for Lowell. Shields got out of trouble though as he got Lowell to foul out to third and Varitek to fly out to center.
Vlad’s big blow came when he led off the 8th with the solo home run by Okajima.
Fuentes came in for the 9th and hit Green with a pitch to start the inning. Rocco Baldelii pinch-hit for Jacoby Ellsbury and struck out. Pedroia couldn’t get it done as he popped out to second. With Big Papi at the plate, Green went to second on defensive indifference and came around to score on a Big Papi single. Youk followed with a single but Drew did his Statue of Liberty impersonation as he was watched strike 3.
The Red Sox head a little bit north as they will take on the Oakland A’s in a 3-game set that starts tomorrow at 10:05 PM. Jon Lester gets the start for the Red Sox and will be opposed by Dallas Braden.
Notes and musings:
Boston Red Sox @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 4.12.09 box score
The 2 homers for Bay yesterday tied his career high for the 13th time (last, August 18, 2008 at Baltimore).
Yesterday marked Papelbon’s 23rd career save in which he pitched more than one inning. He accomplished the feat 11 times last season.
