If The Angels Make The Playoffs, They Owe The Red Sox Big-Time

On the off chance that the Angels make the playoffs this season, they owe the Red Sox something special this winter. Maybe they could buy some of the thousands of unsold Fenway bricks that must be in every closet on Yawkey Way.

Zach Stewart (1-3) made his Red Sox (62-69, 30-31 away) debut and it was an awful one as Boston lost 10-3 to Los Angeles (68-62, 35-29 home) tonight at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

The Angels improved to 5-0 against the Red Sox in 2012 as they sit 3.5 games behind the Orioles for the second Wild Card spot and 4.5 behind the A's who own the first Wild Card in the AL after tonight's action.

Stewart never really gave his team a chance since it was 9-1 in favor of Los Angeles by the third inning. In three miserable innings, he allowed nine earned runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts and two home runs allowed. The final insult was that he was shipped back to Pawtucket after the loss and Daniel Bard is expected to be activated (don't ask me why) for tomorrow night's game as a reliever.

C.J. Wilson (10-9) earned his first win in over two months (June 26) after he went six innings and allowed three earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

The Angels had 14 hits and the Red Sox had 11 but they were all singles. Los Angeles was 6 for 16 with runners in scoring position while Boston's Spring Training type lineup was 1 for 10 in that situation.

Torii Hunter (3 for 4, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, run) led the Angels' attack while Kendry Morales (2 for 4, HR, double, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, walk), Erick Aybar (2 for 4, 2 doubles, 2 runs, RBI), Chris Iannetta (2 for 4, 2 RBIs, run) and Howie Kendrick (2 hits) all had multiple hits in the easy victory.

Mauro Gomez (3 for 4, run), Mike Aviles (2 for 4) and Scott Podsednik (2 for 4, run, RBI) provided most of the offense for Boston.

Alfredo Aceves clearly isn't the Red Sox closer anymore since he was sent in for mopup duty tonight in the seventh and eighth inning (33 pitches). He didn't allow any runs but this came on the heels of his blown save last night.

The Angels will complete their series sweep (3-0) and season sweep (6-0) tomorrow night (10:05 p.m., NESN) as Jon Lester (8-10) faces Zack Greinke (2-2).

UPDATE 8/30: Bard was officially added to the 25-man roster (not sure why they didn't' wait until Saturday, when the rosters expand to 40) and Stewart was sent back to Pawtucket.

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