"That squeeze, you had the feeling it was going to happen," said Red Sox infielder Alex Cora. "It was amazing."

It was a combination that added up when remembering the scouting report: A "70" (above average) runner in Willits and the most proficient bunter on the Angels, Aybar, at-bat, having already put down a team-leading nine bunt hits and nine sacrifice bunts this season.

"They'd done it to us multiple times," said Red Sox catcher Jason Vartiek. "Since I'd been here, they have ... We were very aware of it. (Bench coach Brad Mills) was aware of it. Even Manny (Delcarmen) was. We discussed it before he made any pitches."

As important as that one play was in deciding the outcome of the series, it was the consistent stream of execution that made the biggest difference. For example, the scouting of the Angels' middle of the order became vital in limiting the power production of Mark Teixeira and Vladlimir Guerrero.

"We've seen these guys so many times I think the scouting report validated what we saw in those nine games," said Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell. "Teixeira was probably the biggest unknown coming in and someone we might pitch around to manage the lineup."

If the Red Sox had their choice in a big spot, they were going to let Guerrero beat them, not Teixeira. While pitching around the L.A. first baseman, the Sox clearly had a specific plan of attack against the Angels' cleanup hitter.

Boston pitchers were told to go with hard stuff, up and in, as much as possible against Guerrero, before ultimately finishing him off low and away. The report said that the more you were able to get inside with the free-swinging slugger, the more aggressive he would get, potentially chasing a ball out of the zone.

But perhaps the most trouble the Sox had with any Angels hitter was catcher Mike Napoli, who they hadn't seen as much as the other L.A. catcher, Jeff Mathis, in the teams' previous meetings.

"They told us he's as hot as anybody on the team," said Sox catcher Kevin Cash. "Don't give him any get-me-over curveballs, and no strike breaking balls. He gets a strike breaking ball and hits it off the lights. Still, you always have to take into account that it's a Josh Beckett breaking ball and not just an average one. But I don't know if there is a more prepared team in terms of what they give us."

After the game, Angels starter John Lackey claimed, "We are way better than they are. We lost to a team not as good as us."

That declaration, however, was clearly dismissing the entire package, one which included an advantage the Sox have proven they possess in the postseason — preparation.

"They don't tell you exactly what you need to do. They tell you strengths and weaknesses and points of interest," Beckett said. "They don't overload you with (expletive). They simplify it. It's pretty impressive."