Manny Ramirez made the Los Angeles Angels pay the second time around.
Intentionally walking David Ortiz to get to Ramirez for the second time on the night, Ramirez, tagged a Mass Pike shot over the Green Monster on a 1-0 fastball with two outs from Francisco Rodgriguez for his first walk-off homerun since 1996 against the same ball club and the fifth walk-off homerun for the Red Sox all-time in their post season history.
That last walk-off homerun for Ramirez came off of former Angels closer Troy Percival.
Ramirez is currently in second place behind former New York Yankee Bernie Williams for most career post season homeruns with 21 with the walk-off blast tonight. Williams has 22 career post season homeruns.
Daisuke Matsuzaka earned a no-decision only pitching for 4 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits, while giving up three runs, three walks, and striking out three. Jonathan Papelbon (1-0) picked up the win pitching for 1 1/3 innings, walking two, and striking out one batter.
J.D. Drew provided the early offense for Boston notching a two out two-RBI single to center field scoring Kevin Youkilis and Ortiz to make it 2-0.
The Angels answered back for three runs in the top of the second inning off of Matsuzaka as Los Angeles made him work as he threw 96 pitches in only the 4 2/3 innings pitched. Jeff Mathis grounded out to third scoring the first run for the Angels coming in the back door. Chone Figgins doubled to left field on a ball that got by Ramirez allowing Kevin Morales to scored from second base. Former Red Sox shortstop Orlando Cabrera drove home the final run of the inning on an RBI double to score Figgins giving the Angels a 3-2 lead.
Mike Lowell tied the game in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Dustin Pedroia to not the game up at 3-3.
Within that inning a Bartman flash backed occurred although for Boston fans it went our way and not the Angels way. A pop hit by Ramirez into foul ground was grabbed by a fan legally over the glove of then catcher Mathis giving Ramirez some extra life at the plate. Ramirez walked and Lowell later lifted the ball to center field for the game tying sacrifice fly.
Angels starter, Kelvim Escobar, also suffered a no-decision pitching for 5 innings, on four hits, three runs, five walks, and five strikeouts.
Boston’s bullpen held the game in check as Javier Lopez got an out in the fifth inning, Manny Delcarmen pitched for 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and Hideki Okajima did the same before Papelbon came into the top of the eighth inning to get the final out.
Curt Schilling will face Jered Weaver on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. as Boston attempts to complete the series sweep against the Angels at Los Angeles.
