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October 3, 2007
By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim figuratively doffed their hats and bowed down to Boston starter Josh Beckett, who thoroughly dominated the visitors in a four-hit, 4-0 shutout last night at Fenway Park in the opener of the best-of-five American League Division Series.
Chone Figgins led off the game with a solid single to center, but then Beckett, backed by a 4-0 advantage after three innings, retired 19 in a row in muting the Angels' offense.
"It's not too often you run into a pitcher who has everything working and is spotting everything where he wants it. You just have to tip your hat to him," said rookie outfielder Reggie Willits, who flied out and whiffed in his two at-bats.
First baseman Casey Kotchman was similarly impressed.
"He wasn't just throwing the ball over the plate, he was throwing quality strikes. He threw a lot of offspeed stuff for strikes, too, not just fastballs. He threw a variety of pitches for strikes," added first baseman Casey Kotchman, who was 0 for 3, unable to get the ball out of the infield.
"He made his pitches," chimed in Figgins, who was 1 for 4, robbed of a leadoff hit in the ninth on a diving catch by defensive replacement Jacoby Ellsbury.
"He got a four-run lead early, and with his type of (aggressive, ace-like) mentality, and the way he pitches, we couldn't get any runs off him. You just have to tip your hat," said Figgins.
Veteran outfielder Garret Anderson also complimented Beckett, the majors' only 20-game winner (20-7).
"He was (throwing) strike one all night. And when a pitcher who is above average is (throwing) strike one all night, that makes it pretty tough. He didn't make a mistake all night," said Anderson of Beckett's ability to pound the strike zone with his first pitch of an at-bat, putting the Angels' hitters in a quick hole.
So now the Angels are in a hole in the series, too. They have a day off to contemplate their predicament before the teams meet for Game 2 on Friday at Fenway Park. And they certainly are not ready to run up any white flag.
"Today is over," said catcher Mike Napoli. "We just have to get after it on Friday."
"Our mindset (for Game 2)?" said Figgins, repeating a question. "To win. There can't be any other mindset but to win."
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 10:03 PM | Permalink
