ALDS Game 3: Angels Rally In 9th to Beat Red Sox 7-6, Reach ALCS

Over the Monster follows up with some suddenly relevant questions as the Red Sox enter the offseason. Check it out.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Vladimir Guerrero singled home the tying and go- ahead runs in the top of the ninth, as the Angels scored five times in the last two innings to stun Boston, 7-6, and sweep the American League Division Series.

Jonathan Papelbon (0-1), who entered the game having never given up a run in 17 career postseason appearances (26 innings), tried to protect a 6-4 Red Sox lead in the ninth and quickly retired the first two batters in front of a boisterous crowd at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox were held to just one run on four hits in Friday night’s loss to the Angels in Anaheim. SB Nation’s Sox blog, Over the Monster, laments Jered Weaver’s dominance of Boston’s lineup:

Hope, though, is not lost, as Over the Monster also points out that the Red Sox have a history, albeit relatively distant, of overcoming 2-0 series deficits.

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) – Jered Weaver was dominant through 7 1/3 innings, and the Angels scored three two-out runs in the seventh inning to break a tie, as Los Angeles grabbed a commanding AL Division Series lead over the Red Sox with a 4-1 victory at Angel Stadium.

“We certainly are aware of the challenge ahead of us, even after tonight’s ball game,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “There’s one thing that gives you command of the series, and that’s when you win the third game in a five- game series, and that’s what we’re going to focus on trying to get done on Sunday.”

John Lackey silenced Boston’s bats over 7 1/3 shutout frames and Torii Hunter hit a three-run home run, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim began their American League Division Series with a 5-0 victory over Boston.

Lackey (1-0) was solid, if not spectacular, mowing down a potent Red Sox offense with ease. The right-hander scattered four hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Hunter had the big hit and seven different Angels had hits.

Halos Heaven is reveling in the fact that pretty much everyone got this series wrong.