MLB
  Scores
  Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries: AL | NL
  Players
  Weekly Lineup
  Message Board
  Minor Leagues
  MLB Stat Search

Clubhouses

Sport Sections
  Wednesday, Aug. 23 7:05pm ET
Red Sox defeat Angels after 3-hour delay
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

BOSTON (AP) -- Derek Lowe wanted to get the game in if it took all night. It didn't take quite that long.

The Red Sox reliever's final pitch at 1:03 a.m. ET Thursday ended Boston's 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Angels.

The game took 2:57, four minutes shorter than the rain delay. With two doubleheaders next month and just one day off, the Red Sox didn't need another postponement.

"We'd have stayed here all night to play," said Lowe, who recorded his 29th save in 34 chances. "We'll get some sleep on the plane if we have to."

The Red Sox took an early-morning flight to Kansas City, where they start a four-game series Thursday night.

"If you're going to play until 1 in the morning, especially on a getaway day, these are games you want to win," said Rod Beck, who pitched two innings of shutout relief.

Boston finished its homestand at 7-3 and stayed three games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East and a half-game behind Cleveland in the AL wild-card race.

Brian Daubach singled in one run and scored two as the Red Sox and starter Tomo Ohka overcame a strong performance by Anaheim pitcher Ramon Ortiz.

"Even though things didn't go right and we made a couple of errors behind him, he pitched a terrific ballgame," Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia said.

Ortiz (4-4) allowed five hits in 7 1/3 innings but was hurt by a wild pitch and an error by center fielder Garret Anderson. In his previous win, Ortiz beat Boston and Pedro Martinez with a 2-1, two-hit complete game Aug. 8.

On Wednesday, he faced another strong Red Sox pitcher. Ohka (3-2) allowed one hit in 5 1/3 innings as he won his third straight start. But the bullpen nearly squandered the lead, loading the bases with two outs in the eighth before Adam Kennedy popped out. Ohka left after throwing 106 pitches.

"He only got paid to pitch on Wednesday and it was Thursday so I took him out," Boston manager Jimy Williams joked.

Ohka was surprised at the early hook.

"Even though I threw a lot of pitches, I wasn't tired so I didn't expect the change," he said.

Anaheim finished a 4-5 trip to Toronto, New York and Boston, then had to catch an early-morning, cross-country flight to open a six-game homestand Friday night against Cleveland.

"Coming back east you know they will all be tough games," Scioscia said. "We could have had a much better record with a turn or twist here or there."

The Red Sox went ahead 1-0 in the first thanks to Anderson's error. With two outs and Daubach on first on a fielder's choice, Carl Everett singled up the middle. Anderson, appearing tentative as he ran through the soaked outfield, let the ball get under his glove, allowing Daubach to score.

Boston made it 3-0 in the third when Jose Offerman started the rally by walking and taking second on a wild pitch. He scored on a single by Daubach, who took third on Everett's single and came in on Troy O'Leary's single.

The Angels scored in the fourth when former Boston slugger Mo Vaughn led off with his 31st homer of the season.

Their final threat came in the eighth. With two outs and Vaughn at first with a single off Rheal Cormier, Anderson singled off Rich Garces, and Vaughn took third when right fielder Trot Nixon had trouble picking up the ball for an error. Anderson stole second and Troy Glaus walked to load the bases. Then Garces retired Kennedy on a soft popup to second baseman Mike Lansing on the outfield grass.

Game notes
AL batting leader Nomar Garciaparra, in a 4-for-26 slump and hampered by an injured hamstring, was replaced at shortstop by Manny Alexander, who went 0-for-2 and is in a 3-for-18 slump of his own. ... Vaughn's homer, estimated at 430 feet, went into the empty bleachers which fans had abandoned during the rain. ... Glaus was thrown out at home in the fourth when third-base coach Ron Roenicke waved him in after initially giving the stop sign.
 


ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard

Anaheim Clubhouse

Boston Clubhouse


RECAPS
Boston 3
Anaheim 1

Cleveland 7
Oakland 5

Detroit 6
Seattle 5

NY Yankees 10
Texas 9

Toronto 9
Kansas City 8

Chi. White Sox 8
Baltimore 4

Minnesota 8
Tampa Bay 2

Atlanta 5
Colorado 2

San Francisco 5
Florida 0

Philadelphia 4
Cincinnati 3

Chicago Cubs 15
Houston 5

St. Louis 5
Pittsburgh 2

Milwaukee 8
Arizona 5

Los Angeles 5
Montreal 1

NY Mets 4
San Diego 1