Los Angeles Angels, Mike Scioscia Defeat Boston Red Sox, Get Monkey Off Backs

How about that. Would you believe it!

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are one championship series victory away from facing each other in a possible Freeway Series of Fate.

For the last few years, the Boston Red Sox had been the Angels' postseason bogey team. Not this time. A 7-6 come-from-behind victory buried the demons on Sunday in their American League Division Series.

Now granted, the Halos still have the issue of putting up with those darn New York Yankees, and the boys in blue are awaiting the victor of the Phillies-Rockies clash on the way back from the land of Provel cheese and arches ad nauseum.

But Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon became Papel-bust on Sunday. With the bases loaded and two out, he gave up a two-run single to Vladimir Guerrero.

That preceded the double by Bobby Abreu to cut the Boston lead to one. Torii Hunter was walked to load the bases and set up the series-clinching hit.

The Red Sox crowd at Fenway Park stood silent, like witnesses to a casualty returning from Afghanistan in a casket, as the Angels came back from three runs down to win the ALDS—three games to none.

Now there's an ingenious way to get a monkey off your back: hire the Rally Monkey to do it for you.

This was the Angels' first-ever postseason series sweep. Broken hearts bleed for Papi. But even David Ortiz had no answer for the  Angel pitching staff. Ortiz went one-for-four on Sunday.

Kendry Morales added a home run in the fourth inning off of Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz.

Abreu came up clutch on offensive. He went three-for-five with a couple of doubles and scored twice.

Boston's J.D. Drew hit a home run in the fourth off of Scott Kazmir in the losing effort.

Darren Oliver got the win for the Angels, while Brian Fuentes got his second save of the postseason. Papelbon took the loss, along with the blown save.

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