BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox had history on their side going into their American League division series with the Los Angeles Angels.
Now they need hits.
The four the Red Sox managed in each of their two losses probably won’t be enough in Game 3 today. And they probably will need more than one run — their total in those two games — to avoid a sweep.
The passionate fans at Fenway Park will shout for their players but can’t swing the bats for them. The team with five 20-home run hitters this year faces two options: start hitting or start packing their bags.
“I don’t think the panic button or any more undue pressure is really going to be that beneficial,” said Boston’s Jason Bay, who hit 36 homers this season but has just one hit in the postseason. “Guys know where we’re at.”
Boston is in a much different place than it was in its last three division series against the Angels — sweeps in 2004 and 2007 when the Red Sox won two World Series titles and a 3-1 series win last year.
Now the Angels have a chance for the first postseason sweep in team history.
“We’re not concerned with any of that,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “No one has a handle on a series until you win that third game and you clinch it.”
Scott Kazmir, a left-hander traded to the Angels on Aug. 28, will start today, trying to eliminate the Red Sox.
Division series
Best of five; all games on TBS; * if necessary
DODGERS VS. CARDINALS: Dodgers win series 3-0
Wednesday: Los Angeles 5, St. Louis 3
Thursday: Los Angeles 3, St. Louis 2
Saturday: Los Angeles 5, St. Louis 1
YANKEES VS. TWINS: Yankees lead series 2-0
Wednesday: New York 7, Minnesota 2
Friday: New York 4, Minnesota 3 (11)
Today: New York (Pettitte 14-8) at Minnesota (Pavano 14-12), 5:07 pm.
*Monday: New York (Sabathia 19-8) at Minnesota (S.Baker 15-9), 3:07 p.m.
*Wed.: Minn. at N.Y., 4:07 p.m. or 6:07 p.m.
ANGELS VS. RED SOX: Angels lead series 2-0
Thursday: Los Angeles 5, Boston 0
Friday: Los Angeles 4, Boston 1
Today: Los Angeles (Kazmir 10-9) at Boston (Buchholz 7-4), 10:07 a.m.
*Monday: Los Angeles (Saunders 16-7) at Boston (Lester 15-8), 6:37 p.m.
*Wed.: Boston at L.A., 6:07 p.m. or 7:37 p.m.
