A loss and the team would have to board a six-hour flight to Oakland at 4-11, wondering when the hot streak is going to come. With the 9-1 win over Toronto, that flight is made with the sense that the streak may already be in play.
As it is, Boston is going into enemy territory that has been kind to the club in recent years. Entering on a positive is critical.
"It's good. It creates a positive atmosphere in here," Kevin Youkilis said when asked how important it was to end the homestand on a positive note. "We don't have to sweep a series, we've just got to win the series out in Oakland and Anaheim [to keep this going]."
That's easier said than done. The Red Sox have lost the season series in Oakland for six straight years, going 10-19 at the Oakland Coliseum in that stretch. Many of those years involved A's teams not on par with the current unit. Boston is 6-9 over its last four years in Anaheim.
Additionally, the pitchers that the Red Sox will face on this trip are legit. There are no pushovers.
Oakland, which has a day off Monday to sit and wait for Boston's arrival, will start Brett Anderson and Gio Gonzalez in the two-game set. They have combined to post a 1.40 ERA in six starts this season.
The Angels, winners of five straight entering Monday, will have Dan Haren (4-0, 1.16 ERA) going in the second game against Boston.
Carl Crawford, who managed to snap an 0-for-15 hitless slide with an RBI double on Monday, is one guy who will be heading west with less of a burden, at least personally. The hit was just his fourth in 37 at-bats at home, and the RBI his first in Fenway Park as a member of the Red Sox.
"It's always better to go out on the road with some hits rather than no hits," he said.
Although his hit was just a small contribution, he feels part of a team that might be jelling at the very best time, right before the difficult trip.
"Feel like the team is starting to heat up a little bit," Crawford said. "We'll take that out west and play well and win two series out there."
