With an 11-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Thursday, the Red Sox completed a four-game sweep that showcased quality starting pitching, stellar defense and a consistent offensive attack, three elements that have rarely been seen at the same time this year.
The winning streak came after three losses in Baltimore over the weekend, which prompted general manager Theo Epstein to blast the club and a closed-door team meeting to take place upon the return to Fenway.
It also moved the Sox above .500 for the first time since they were 1-0 and may have given them enough mojo to take on the world champs, who enter with the second-best record in the majors behind first-place Tampa Bay.
“These are gonna be some big games,” said second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who scored three times Thursday night. “But if we keep doing what we’re doing we’ll be all right. We’ve been playing well the last four days.
“They have a great team and we need to be on top of our game.”
If the whitewash of the Angels is any indication, that’s exactly where the team is. Finally.
Boston outscored Los Angeles 36-16 in the series. It slugged seven home runs. Each of its starters worked at least into the sixth inning, posting a collective ERA of 3.80. Even Daisuke Matsuzaka was able to eke out his first win after giving up four first-inning runs on three walks and two hits. The Sox' defense committed just one error, and that came in the second inning of the series opener.
“We feel a lot better the way things are coming around for everybody,” said catcher Victor Martinez after driving in four runs Thursday. “Everybody knows it won’t be a whole season like that, there’s no way. We have very good talent in this room and it’s just a matter of time before we all turn it around.”
The timing of the turnaround was not lost on the team. When New York is looming, there is often a sense of urgency.
The Yankees enter the series at 19-8, and despite suffering injuries to several key players, have won four straight. New York has taken 11 of the last 13 meetings in the series and will be throwing three starters who are a collective 11-1 with a 2.16 ERA.
Essentially, after a couple of weeks of playing mediocre opponents, the Sox have to see if they can measure up. Otherwise it will render their chances to remain relevant in the AL East that much more slim.
“We’re at a point now where we don’t want to let the three teams in front of us get too far away,” Pedroia. “They’re pretty darn good.”
So, too, are the Red Sox. Or so it would seem based on the sweep of the Angels. Maybe we need a measurement.
