--Manager Mike Scioscia started Vladimir Guerrero at DH in Game 1 and indicated Guerrero would fill that role throughout the first-round series. Guerrero has been playing on a balky right knee all season, and Scioscia he wanted to give Guerrero "one less thing to worry about" in the postseason and not ask him to run on the knee defensively.
--C Jeff Mathis will get the start in Game 2. Game 2 starter RHP Ervin Santana had a 14-4 record and 2.88 ERA when pitching to Mathis during the regular season.
--DH Vladimir Guerrero ran the Angels out of a potential rally in the eighth inning. Guerrero singled with one out, and Torii Hunter followed with a blooper over the head of Red Sox 1B Kevin Youkilis. Youkilis couldn't make the play, but Guerrero ran through a stop sign and was easily thrown out at third by Youkilis. "You never know what that inning is going to become," manager Mike Scioscia said. "But, you know, Vlad is aggressive. It was a tough read. It was behind him, and I think he thought the ball was farther out than it was."
--RHP John Lackey pitched well, allowing only two runs on Jason Bay's home run through 6 2/3 innings. But the loss dropped Lackey to 3-8 in his career against the Red Sox. He is winless in his past five postseason starts, his most recent win coming in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series.
--1B Mark Teixeira went 2-for-4 in the first playoff game of his career. Teixeira was robbed of a third hit in the eighth inning when Red Sox CF Jacoby Ellsbury made an outstanding catch of his blooper to shallow center field.
BY THE NUMBERS: 1.78 -- Angels' average runs per game in their last nine playoff games, eight of them losses.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "When you're not scoring runs, you've got your back to the wall as a pitcher. We need to get that hit. Some hits early would have helped. Some early runs would have let John (Lackey) relax and give him some breathing room." -- Angels manager Mike Scioscia.
SS Maicer Izturis (torn ligament in left thumb) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 14. He had season-ending surgery Aug. 19.
RHP Kelvim Escobar (torn labrum in right shoulder) opened the season on the 15-day disabled list, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 1. He had season-ending surgery July 29. Recovery time is expected to be 10 to 12 months.
Angels owner Arte Moreno, speaking to reporters before Game 1 of the Division Series, said that contrary to sabermetric theory, he believes that some players possess an "X factor" that enables them to succeed in clutch situations. He also talked about the need for players whom you would want in a "foxhole," especially in the postseason.
2008 MLB playoffs
More on the playoffs:
- MLB Playoff Central | Video Central
- Fan reaction to every series
- Perry: Burning October questions
- PHOTOS: Thursday's playoff action
The Angels are certain to exercise Guerrero's $15 million club option for next season, and the industry-wide assumption is that Moreno will attempt to sign him to a contract extension this winter.
