G22: Red Sox 7, Angels 6

Angels  - 003 200 010 - 6  11  0
Red Sox - 100 131 01x - 7  16  1

Ellsbury gave the Sox a 1-0 lead with a home run to start the first. After Pauley retired the first six Angels, his slider stopped sliding, his pitches stayed up and the Angels battered him for three runs in the third and two more in the fourth.

Down 5-1, Boston began its comeback in the fourth, as Lugo doubled home Drew. Pedroia doubled to start the fifth, and he scored on Manny's single. Then Youkilis bopped a dong to left and the game was tied at 5-5. Ellsbury smacked his second home run of the night with two outs in the sixth, putting the Red Sox back on top.

Okajima worked out of a two-on, no-out Tavarez mess in the seventh, but surrendered a solo home run to Kotchman leading off the eighth. Jeemer got the next two outs on only three pitches, but gave up a double to Aybar (his third of the game). Timlin came in -- gulp! -- and got Figgins on a grounder to short.

With one out in eighth, Ellsbury beat out a drag bunt to first. Shields came in and was quite focused on Lyndon, making three throws to first while falling behind Pedroia 2-1. FY ripped a line drive past third, down the line and into the corner. Ellsbury scored standing up, Pedroia had his third double of the night, and Boston led 7-6.

Papelbon pitched a no-nonsense ninth. He threw 11 pitches and all but one of them was 98 or 99; the other one was 100. He fanned Matthews on three pitches, got Vlad on a check-swing strike three and forced Anderson to pop to Manny in left.

Sixth straight win -- 15-7 record -- 110-win pace. Good times!

***

Jered Weaver (3.60, 117 ERA+) / David Pauley (2006 Sox: 16 IP, 7.88, 60 ERA+)

UPDATE from Amalie Benjamin, Globe:

Josh Beckett [5.12, 86 ERA+] has been pulled from tonight's start because of a stiff neck. David Pauley will start in his place. Joe Thurston was designated for assignment to make room for Pauley on the roster.

Jeff Horrigan, Herald:

Jason Varitek was so ill this weekend that he was unable to drive himself to the ballpark Sunday.

Kevin Cash, who caught Tim Wakefield in Sunday's victory, played again yesterday. Red Sox manager Terry Francona indicated Varitek may need another day off tonight against the Angels.

And Josh Beckett was forced to head home prior to Sunday's game against Texas after becoming ill.

Manny Ramirez was named AL Co-Player of the Week for April 14-20. He hit .417 (10-for-24) with four homers and eight RBI in seven games. He shared the honor with Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers. It's the 10th time Manny has won the award as a Sock, and the 16th time in his career, the most of any player in history.