John Lackey made a good impression against his old 'mates as he tossed a seven-inning two-hitter. (Michael Dwyer/AP)
On a night that Nomar Garciaparra was honored at Fenway Park (May 5 ironically), he was treated to a good win as the Red Sox topped the Los Angeles Angels, 3-1, on Wednesday. With the win tonight the Sox have their first four-game series win against the Angels since August 20-23, 2001 in Anaheim (3-1) and their first at Fenway since June 14-17-1991 (3-1).
In the second inning, Adrian Beltre gave the Sox a 1-0 lead as he singled past Angel third baseman Brandon Wood and over the bag into foul ground in right field.
David Ortiz doubled the lead in the fourth as he unloaded with an opposite field home run into the second row of the Green Monster for his fourth home run of the season.
Brandon Wood redeemed himself with a solo shot of his own in the fifth that went a mile high and just cleared the wall in left field. The dinger was his second of the season.
The Red Sox continued the home run parade in the eighth as he hit a solo shot to deep center field for his second of the season to give Boston insurance and a 3-1 lead.
John Lackey threw a seven-inning masterpiece for the win against his inagural club, allowing just eight hits and three walks in a combined two-hitter with Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon. Bard and Papelbon combined for two perfect innings of relief to preserve the two-hitter and give Papelbon with his eighth save.
Joel Pineiro took the loss as he allowed just eight hits, two earned runs, and two walks for the Angels, falling to 2-4.
The Red Sox will look for the series sweep against the Halos on Thursday at 7:05 as Daiuske Matsuzaka takes the hill against Angels lefty and resident Red Sox killer Scott Kazmir. A win would give the Sox their first four-game series sweep against the Angels since August 18-20, 1967.
