Boston, MA (My Sportsbook) - Vladimir Guerrero singled home the tying and go- ahead runs in the top of the ninth, as the Angels scored five times in the last two innings to stun Boston, 7-6, and sweep the American League Division Series in three games.
Jonathan Papelbon (0-1), who entered the game having never given up a run in 17 career postseason appearances (26 innings), tried to protect a 6-4 Red Sox lead in the ninth and quickly retired the first two batters in front of a boisterous crowd at Fenway Park.
But the Red Sox faithful turned silent as Los Angeles completed a shocking comeback.
Erick Aybar lined a base hit to center and Chone Figgins walked before Bobby Abreu ripped an RBI double off the left-field wall. After Papelbon intentionally walked Torii Hunter, Guerrero dumped a single into center field to put the Halos ahead.
"When they walked Torii, my main focus was to go get a good pitch to hit and thank God I came through," said Guerrero. "And the main thing is that we were able to have that great comeback and win that ball game. But mainly I was not looking for any particular pitch. I was just looking for a strike to hit and he threw me a strike and I was able to hit it up the middle."
Brian Fuentes tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of the series.
"Thats why that's the toughest job in baseball," Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia said of the closer's role, specifically Papelbon. "If you save it, you're supposed to do that. If you don't, everyone points the finger but there's no one we'd rather have the ball but him."
It was a measure of revenge for a Los Angeles club that had lost in the ALDS to the Red Sox in 2004, 2007 and 2008.
The Angels will face either the Minnesota Twins or New York Yankees in the ALCS. New York leads that best-of-five series, 2-0, with Game 3 scheduled for Sunday night.
"This is one of the most special wins," said Abreu. "This is the win that helped me to go to another level to another series. I never been in that situation to play the other series. Always shut it down in the first round. So now to me to go to the second round is something special. I wanted to play that round. I wanted to have the experience to go to the World Series. So now I'm close."
Juan Rivera had two hits and drove in two runs, while Kendry Morales clubbed a solo home run for the Angels, who advanced to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2005.
Los Angeles starting pitcher Scott Kazmir gave up five runs on five hits and walked three in six innings of work. Darren Oliver (1-0) recorded the last out in the eighth to earn the win.
J.D. Drew belted a two-run homer and Pedroia added a two-run double for the Red Sox. The last time Boston was swept in the playoffs was by Chicago in the 2005 ALDS.
"I think we're disappointed," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "The season doesn't wind down. It just comes to a crashing halt. You go into the top of the inning excited because you think you're going to keep playing. Half an inning later, you're going home. So it's disappointing."
Victor Martinez and Mike Lowell knocked in the other runs for Boston, while Clay Buchholz, making his postseason debut, gave up two runs on six hits in his five-plus inning start.
The Red Sox, who were held to one run and eight hits in the first two games of this series, put up a three-spot in the third inning.
Alex Gonzalez was aboard via a one-out walk and Jacoby Ellsbury singled before Pedroia cleared the bases by doubling off the Green Monster. He then scored on a base hit to left by Martinez.
Morales' blast to the seats in right field put Los Angeles on the board in the fourth, but Boston countered in the bottom of the inning on the home run by Drew -- a rocket to center field for a 5-1 Red Sox lead.
The Angels loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth. Daniel Bard relieved Buchholz and managed to limit the damage to one run on a double-play grounder off the bat of Rivera.
Billy Wagner was on the mound to begin the eighth for Boston. Abreu hit a chopper down the first-base line that deflected off Kevin Youkilis' glove and bounced out of play, allowing Abreu to move up to second base. Guerrero walked with one out and a groundout by Morales put both runners in scoring position.
Papelbon was then called on from the bullpen and Rivera slapped the right- hander's first pitch to right-center for a two-run single. Papelbon picked off pinch-runner Reggie Willits to end the inning.
Lowell's RBI single gave Boston a two-run lead heading to the ninth.
Game Notes
Abreu finished with three hits...Los Angeles went 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position...Papelbon had thrown the most career postseason innings in major league history without allowing a run.
