The Red Sox and Angels have a rivalry of a different color.
The Sox have ended the Angels' championship dreams three times since 2004 and two years in a row, going 9-1 in 10 postseason contests against the West Coast powerhouse since the year the "curse was reversed."
This season, the Angels had the Red Sox' number as the Halos took the season-series 5-4. Mike Scioscia's crew took two of three at both of L.A.'s three-game home series against the Sox, while Boston edged the Angels in two of three at Fenway in September.
Below is a rundown of how the Red Sox fared against the Angels in 2009.
Friday, April 10 at Angels: Loss, 6-3
Winning pitcher: Weaver (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Wakefield (0-1)
After losing young starting pitcher Nick Adenhart in a fatal car accident early Thursday, the Angels courageously hosted the Red Sox with heavy hearts. The Angels honored their fallen teammate with a win, as they held the Red Sox' offense to just three runs, including two in the eighth inning. Angels starter Jared Weaver allowed four hits over 6 2/3 shutout innings, while Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield took the loss after allowing three earned runs on six hits in six innings. Jeff Mathis and Howie Kendrick each drove in a pair of runs for the Angels, and Jacoby Ellsbury had his first of many two-hit games of the season.
Saturday, April 11 at Angels: Win, 5-4
Winning pitcher: Penny (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Saunders (1-1)
Brad Penny gave the Red Sox their second win of the season after holding the Angels to three runs in six innings. Jason Bay paced the offense with two homers and three RBIs, while Mike Lowell smacked a two-run homer.
Sunday, April 12 at Angels: Loss, 5-4
Winning pitcher: Moseley (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Beckett (1-1)
Josh Beckett cleared the benches with a fastball by Bobby Abreu's head in the bottom of the first, after the right fielder called time as the ace wound up. Abreu and the Angels had the last laugh and captured the series as Boston stranded 25 runners and Abreu drove in a pair of runs in the 4-2 win.
Tuesday, May 12 at Angels: Win, 4-3
Winning pitcher: Ramirez (4-0)
Losing pitcher: Shields (1-3)
Down 3-0 heading into the eighth inning, the Red Sox rallied in odd fasion and eventually took a 4-3 win. David Ortiz was hit by a pitch with the bases juiced and one down before Jason Bay plated the tying run with a groundout to first. In the ninth, Jason Varitek slapped an RBI double to score the eventual game-winner, before Jonathan Papelbon closed things out in the bottom of the ninth.
Wednesday, May 13 at Angels: Loss, 8-4
Winning pitcher: Palmer (4-0)
Losing pitcher: Wakefield (4-2)
After busting out to a 4-0 lead after two frames, Tim Wakefield and the Red Sox looked like they were cruising to another 'W,' but the Angels busted out for five runs in the third, highlighted by a three-run blast from Mike Napoli. The Halos scored a run in each of the following three innings and held the Red Sox to just one hit in the final seven frames en route to an 8-4 win.
Thursday, May 14 at Angels: Loss, 5-4
Winning pitcher: Bulger (1-1)
Losing pitcher: Delcarmen (1-1)
It was a sad day for David Ortiz and his loyal fans as the Red Sox slugger went 0-for-7 and stranded 12 base runners in the 5-4, extra inning loss. Julio Lugo had five hits, while Dustin Pedroia smacked four, but Jeff Mathis had the big hit of the day — an RBI single in the bottom of the 12th to plate Reggie Willits with the game-winner.
"Sorry, guys, I don't feel like talking right now," Ortiz said. "Just put down 'Papi stinks.'"
Tuesday Sept. 15 vs. Angels: Win, 4-1
Winning pitcher: Matsuzaka (2-5)
Losing pitcher: Lackey (10-8)
In his first start in three months, Daisuke Matsuzaka looked sharp and picked up the win after holding the Angels to three hits over six-plus shutout innings. David Ortiz homered and drove in a pair of runs, while the Red Sox' pitching staff held the Angels' offense to just six hits in the 4-1 win at Fenway Park.
Wednesday Sept. 16 vs. Angels: Win, 9-8
Winning pitcher: Bard (2-1)
Losing pitcher: Fuentes (1-5)
Those rallying Red Sox were at it again, and the least likely hero — Alex Gonzalez — walked off the field as the hero of the Hub thanks to an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. Down 7-5 in the eighth, the Red Sox plated two runs to tie it on a Casey Kotchman RBI groundout and a Jacoby Ellsbury RBI single. After the Halos took the lead once more in the top of the ninth, Nick Green forced in a run by drawing a bases-loaded walk, before Gonzalez flared one to left to plate J.D. Drew with the game-winner.
Thursday Sept. 17 vs. Angels: Loss, 4-3
Winning pitcher: Jepsen (6-3)
Losing pitcher: Wagner (1-1)
Josh Beckett and Ervin Santana engaged in an old-fashioned pitchers' duel, and both held the opposition to three runs each. While the Red Sox have been more than happy to have games decided in a battle of the bullpens, this one turned upside-down as the ever-reliable Billy Wagner was pegged for the loss after allowing an RBI single to Howie Kendrick in the top of the ninth.
