Lackey too tough for Boston in opener

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — John Lackey hadn’t won a playoff game in seven years, not since he clinched the Angels’ only World Series title as an excitable rookie.

During Los Angeles’ slump-snapping shutout of the Red Sox, the Angels’ veteran ace showed Boston just how much he’s grown.

Lackey pitched superbly into the eighth inning of Boston’s first scoreless playoff loss in 14 years, and Torii Hunter’s three-run homer in the fifth inning propelled the Angels to a 5-0 victory over their longtime playoff nemesis in their first-round opener Thursday night.

The AL West champion Angels snapped a six-game home playoff losing streak behind Lackey, who used fine control and good defense to keep Boston off the playoff scoreboard for the first time in 70 games.

“That’s what Lackey is going to do: put the ball in good zones and make teams dig it out,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “John made pitches, and that’s a long way to pitch against that lineup. To get us 22 outs like that, that’s a tremendous effort.”

After striking out four and allowing four singles while rarely even facing trouble, Lackey doffed his cap to a standing ovation.

“Even in the bullpen, I knew my arm was feeling good,” said Lackey, who pitched just once in the previous 11 days. “The extra rest that I had really helped me out. I really felt like my arm was pretty live tonight.”

Darren Oliver finished up with 12‚Ñ3 innings of hitless relief. Boston didn’t even manage an extra-base hit in the first scoreless pitching performance in the Angels’ 53-game postseason history.

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BostonLos Angeles

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E—Ale.Gonzalez (1), Lowell (1), Bay (1), J.Mathis (1). DP—Boston 1, Los Angeles 1. LOB—Boston 5, Los Angeles 8. 2B—J.Rivera (1), E.Aybar (1). HR—Tor.Hunter (1). S—Figgins, J.Mathis.

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Boston

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Los Angeles

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R.Ramirez pitched to 3 batters in the 7th. HBP—by R.Ramirez (Tor.Hunter). WP—Lackey. Umpires—Home, Joe West; First, C.B. Bucknor; Second, Eric Cooper; Third, Greg Gibson; Right, Dan Iassogna; Left, Brian Gorman. T—3:09. A—45,070.