Angels fundamentally
flawed in loss
Anaheim allowed four
unearned runs in 9-3 setback
 Jeff Gross / Getty Images Angels pitcher Jarrod Washburn allowed seven runs in a 9-3 loss to Boston on Tuesday. |
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ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Angels fundamentally fell apart.
Chone Figgins made a crucial error, starter Jarrod Washburn was rocked for seven runs — three earned — in 3 1-3 innings and Vladimir Guerrero went hitless for the Angels in a series-opening 9-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.
Although Anaheim committed just one error, the wild throw home by third baseman Figgins came during a seven-run fourth inning that allowed the Red Sox to open an 8-0 lead.
“We make that play and they score two runs instead of seven,” Washburn said. “If that play gets made by Figgy — and he makes that play nine times out of 10 — it would have been a different game.”
Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia said heading into the game that he wanted to start a strong defensive lineup that included Figgins at third and light-hitting Alfredo Amezaga at second for the injured Adam Kennedy.
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Johnny Damon hit a chopper to Figgins, who fielded the ball cleanly and double-clutched before throwing to the plate — only his throw sailed some five feet to the left of catcher Bengie Molina.
Two runs scored on the error and Boston wound up with runners at second and third. After reliever Scot Shields struck out Mark Bellhorn, Manny Ramirez followed with a three-run homer.
So Boston really cashed in on the error.
“That’s the kind of thing you need to capitalize on in the playoffs,” Millar said. “Every out, every pitch and every strike means something, so it was a big play at the time and it gave us a big lead.”
Figgins remained upbeat as he fielded questions afterward.
“I’m not beating myself up. I played aggressively, that’s the way I play. If it happens tomorrow, I’m going to do the same thing,” he said, meaning he would try to make an accurate throw to home.
Asked why he double-pumped on the throw, Figgins said the runner (Jason Varitek) was “a little bit” in his line of sight.
“I was looking where to throw it,” Figgins said.
A utilityman who started at six different positions this season and made 15 errors in 148 games, Figgins also had a chance to catch Ramirez’s hard-hit grounder for a double in the first inning, although the ball to the third-baseman’s backhand would have been a difficult play.
“I played it aggressively and it took a bad hop. He’s a right-handed hitter and the ball had a lot of topspin on it,” Figgins said.
Ortiz followed with an RBI single to the right side, the ball skipping just beyond the glove of the diving Amezaga.
Washburn, 11-8 with a 4.64 ERA during the regular season, allowed five hits and walked three in his short stint, including a two-run homer by Millar during the Red Sox’s seven-run fourth inning.
That was Boston’s postseason high for an inning and also a worst for Anaheim — the most runs given up in an inning.
The Angels’ usually potent lineup, which tied Boston for the AL lead with a .282 batting average and scored 6.5 runs per game in Washburn’s starts this season, managed just two earned runs despite getting nine hits.
At least the Angels’ hitters had an excuse — they were facing Curt Schilling.
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