G21: Red Sox 7, Angels 0

Red Sox - 300 012 100 - 7 11  0
Angels  - 000 000 000 - 0  6  0

Boston swept its first four-game series in Anaheim in nearly 31 years as John Lackey (8-6-0-1-6, 108) continued the Red Sox's starters' remarkable run of dominance. Only four Angels runners travelled beyond first base.

In the last nine games, Boston starters have a microscopic 0.88 ERA (six earned runs in 61.1 innings).

The Red Sox have won five straight games and eight of their last nine games since April 15, outscoring their opponents 46-16, and improving their record from 2-10 to 10-11.

In those eight wins, Boston has allowed 1, 1, 1, 3, 2, 3, 0, and 0 runs.

Five of the first six Red Sox batters reached base in the first inning. Jacoby Ellsbury doubled and scored on Adrian Gonzalez's one-out double. Kevin Youkilis walked, David Ortiz singled in Gonzalez, and Mike Cameron's fielder's choice brought Yook home. Carl Crawford hit a two-run homer in the sixth.

Gonzalez went 3-for-5, and Ellsbury, Crawford, and Marco Scutaro each had two hits. AG and Crawford drove in two runs apiece, and Scutaro scored twice.

After enjoying a day off tomorrow, the Red Sox play three games at Camden Yards before heading home for 11 games against the Mariners (3), Angels (4), and Twins (4).

John Lackey / Matt Palmer

Boston wakes up this morning tied for third place in the AL East.

Yankees   11   6   .647   ---
Rays      10  11   .476   3.0
Red Sox    9  11   .450   3.5
Blue Jays  9  11   .450   3.5
Orioles    8  11   .421   4.0

It's the highest in the standings the Red Sox have been this year.

Boston is 7-1 over the last eight games, and the starting pitchers have a 1.01 ERA. Lackey's one outing in that stretch was last Tuesday in Oakland; he allowed one run and four hits in six innings.

Lackey's ERA for the season is 9.82 (14.2 innings) and opponents are batting .323 against him, with a .677 slugging percentage (nearly 100 points worse than any other starter). Lackey has given up an extra-base hit to one out of every five batters he had faced this year.

(Fact) Check, Please:

Tom Singer, MLB.com: "Is it too late for Red Sox Nation to revive that "100 or Bust!" chant, a reference to winning in triple figures, which the Red Sox have never done?

Except for 1912, 1915, and 1946, yes, they've never done it.

AL East: Rays/Blue Jays at 1 PM and Yankees/Orioles at 1:30 PM.