The scrappy Los Angeles Angels are showing they've got what it takes to beat the Boston Red Sox. Pinch hitter Erick Aybar hit a bases-clearing triple to highlight a four-run seventh, and the Angels rallied for a 4-2 victory over the defending World Series champions Saturday. Los Angeles pinch hitters were just 6-for-38 with five RBIs this season before Aybar's clutch hit. The Angels, going for their fourth AL West title in five years, won their fourth straight game including an 11-3 triumph over the Red Sox on Friday night to move a season-high 21 games over .500 and extend their division lead over Oakland to eight games. The Angels have won a big league-leading 59 games, including four of five against the Red Sox, who swept them in the first round of the playoffs on their way to World Series championships in 2004 and again last year. Boston has won nine the last nine postseason games between the teams. The loss was the ninth in 11 road games for the Red Sox, who haven't lost a season series to the Angels since 2001. Josh Beckett (9-6) took a four-hit shutout into the seventh, but Vladimir Guerrero hit the 28-year-old right-hander's first pitch over the left field fence for his 16th homer. Torii Hunter and Garret Anderson followed with singles before pinch hitter Reggie Willits sacrificed. Beckett walked Howie Kendrick intentionally for his only walk of the game before Aybar pulled a grounder inside first to clear the bases. Beckett struck out Chone Figgins before Coco Crisp kept the Angels from scoring at least one more run by making a leaping catch of Casey Kotchman's drive as he crashed into the center field fence. Continued... |