It’s still code red for the Angels, but they lived to play another night, after inching by the Red Sox in 12 innings, 5-4, in Game 3 of the Division Series last night at Fenway Park.
Erick Aybar’s RBI single off of Javier Lopez was the fatal blow as Los Angeles snapped the Red Sox’ record 11-game postseason winning streak against the Angels and closed the series deficit to 2-1. The Sox still are one win away from advancing to the ALCS against either the Tampa Bay Rays or Chicago White Sox, but if they lose tonight, the series shifts back to Anaheim, Calif., for a decisive Game 5 on Wednesday night.
The Red Sox had, then wasted, their late chances. They had two on with one out and the bases loaded with two outs in the 10th against Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez, but the threat ended with a Jed Lowrie flyout to right. Coco Crisp reached second base in the 11th with a single and a stolen base, but Pedroia stranded him there with a groundout. And in the 12th, David Ortiz drew a leadoff walk, but Kevin Youkilis (fly ball to center), Jason Bay (strikeout) and Alex Cora (hard groundout to third) failed to get him in. Jered Weaver tossed two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.
Prior to the 12th, the Sox bullpen pitched six scoreless innings, salvaging an off night for starter Josh Beckett, who gave up four runs on nine hits in five difficult frames. Beckett was a shell of his 2007 October self in his 2008 postseason debut. His outing was the shortest of his postseason career, and he gave up more hits than he has in any playoff game. Beckett needed 30 pitches to get through the first inning, allowing one run. The big damage came on a pair of home runs by Mike Napoli, whose two-run blast in the third tied the game at 3. His solo shot in the fifth put the Angels ahead, 4-3.
The Red Sox did tie the game in the fifth, when Youkilis doubled in Jacoby Ellsbury (double). One walk later, Angels starter Joe Saunders was out of the game. He lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs and four walks just like his counterpart.
In the end, the Angels got a second life in their final chance. Tonight, they can put the pressure on the Sox, who do not want to go back to the West Coast. Game 1 starters Jon Lester and John Lackey will square off again tonight.
