The Red Sox will find themselves in a familiar spot when they take the field at Fenway Park today to face the Los Angeles Angels in Game 3 of the Division Series. Which is to say the Sox are facing a deep postseason hole. The Angels have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series on the strength of two dominant pitching performances in Anaheim, Calif. The Red Sox were held to one run and eight hits over the first two games, and they are hoping a return to Fenway will get their bats going. The Sox are also hoping that history repeats itself. The club is a remarkable 13-3 in elimination games since 2003. (See chart on Page B7). Three times during that stretch - in the 2003 ALDS, '04 ALCS and '07 ALCS - the Sox won at least three straight games to stave off elimination. They will need to repeat that feat if they hope to advance to this year's ALCS.
``(The experience) doesn't hurt,'' manager Terry Francona said. ``It's a different group, though. The Angels are somewhat of a different group, too. There's reasons we're down 2-0. Some of that is because they're pretty good. Again, though, rather than sit and get too philosophical about things like that - because it can appear kind of daunting - that's why we just keep it simple and try to win (today).''
Obviously Dustin Pedroia would rather not be facing a 2-0 hole, but the second baseman believes his experience from the comeback win over the Cleveland Indians in the 2007 ALCS will be beneficial.
``I remember in '07, we were down 3-1 against Cleveland and it was the worst feeling ever,'' Pedroia said. ``You have that same kind of feeling now, obviously. You have that terrible feeling in your stomach that you don't want the season to end.
``We know we have a great team. We just haven't played well the first two games. We just have to go out there and (take) baby steps. You have to try to win every inning, win every pitch and hopefully that leads to games.''
The narrow focus has helped in the past. Rather than worrying about winning three games, the Sox will put all of their efforts into winning one today and then going after another tomorrow.
``Right now what we're trying to do is win two games at home,'' left fielder Jason Bay said. ``And we've done that numerous, numerous times during the season. Ultimately you want to win the next three games. I think we have to get to (Game) 4 and (Game) 5 first. And I think the short-term goal is win two games at home, which we're capable of, and take it back to Anaheim and take our chances.''
With Jon Lester and Josh Beckett waiting in the wings for possible starts should the series be extended, the Angels would undoubtedly like to put an end to the series today. The pitching matchup is in Los Angeles' favor, with the Sox sending Clay Buchholz to the mound for his postseason debut, while the Angels will counter with Scott Kazmir, who has a 4.21 ERA in five playoff starts.
In the face of long odds, the Red Sox won't change their approach.
``We kind of know what's at stake,'' Bay said. ``I don't think the panic button or any undo pressure is really going to be that beneficial.
``Guys know where we're at.''
Where they're at today is fighting for their playoff lives. How they play today will determine where they're at tomorrow - either back at Fenway for Game 4 or heading home for the winter.
- danduggan@bostonherald.com
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