G145: Angels 4, Red Sox 3

Angels  - 001 010 101 - 4  8  0
Red Sox - 000 300 000 - 3  6  0

The Angels pushed a run across off Billy Wagner in the top of the ninth inning to avoid a sweep at Fenway -- and spoil Boston's bid for a perfect 8-0 homestand.

After Beckett (8-7-3-0-7, 114) departed, Wagner walked Juan Rivera. Pinch runner Terry Evans was bunted to second and scored on Howie Kendrick's bloop single over Dustin Pedroia into short right. Mike Lowell singled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but pinch-hitter Rocco Baldelli popped out to right to end the game.

Down 1-0 in the fourth, Jacoby Ellsbury homered down the right field line to tie the game. With one out, Victor Martinez singled to center and Jason Bay donged to deep left. After that Boston had only four baserunners and none of them reached second.

The Angels tied the game at 3-3 in the seventh when Chone Figgins struck out for the third out -- but yet afuckin'gain the ball got by Jason Varitek and rolled to the backstop.

The Yankees and Rangers were both off tonight, so Boston is 7 GB in the East (with 17 games left) and 6 GA in the Wild Card.

Ervin Santana (5.52, 82 ERA+) / Josh Beckett (3.82, 124 ERA+)

Talk of the Red Sox having a shot at the AL East has crept back into some of the media coverage of the team. I was shocked when Dave O'Brien mentioned the possibility during last night's radio broadcast.

Of course, some of us have never stopped believing that catching the Yankees was possible. A New York loss last night would have helped tremendously, but a Boston win tonight would cut the East deficit to six games. And as the MFY head west to visit the Mariners and Angels, the Red Sox will feast on the cellar-dwelling Orioles and Royals. Boston could certainly be four games back when the three-game series in the Bronx begins a week from Friday.

Nick Green had not told anyone about his injured right leg for three days. And during his pinch-hit appearance last nighty -- bottom of the ninth, down by a run, bases loaded, two outs -- he didn't think he could even put the ball into play.

Go look at the replay. Go look at all the swings, and maybe you can figure something out. I couldn't really swing. ... I almost collapsed every single swing, and almost collapsed walking down to first, and almost collapsed when I was leading off. ... I thought it was fine, but it was different once you get in a game ... I seriously did not think I could get a hit.

Paul Byrd:

I was in the clubhouse screaming at the TV with ice on my arm. I can't believe what a great game that was.

David Ortiz, who walked with two outs to start the rally in an inning that went P4, F8, BB, 1B, 1B, BB, 1B:

I never saw anything like that before. ... We're kicking ass.

Jonathan Papelbon woke up on Wednesday with a sore lower back after slipping in the bullpen on Tuesday night.

This is just a one-day thing. ... There's no reason for me to go out there and push the envelope when I'm going to be pushed a lot more in a little while.

Tim Wakefield wants to start on Monday in Kansas City.

As of today, I can pitch. The meeting we had basically was to determine whether or not it was safe for me to continue to pitch, because my strength has gone down. We wanted to get everybody together and decide. I'll throw another side Friday, see how it feels from there.

The Yankees and Rangers are both off tonight, but Justin Masterson and his Spiders face the A's in Oakland at 10.