The Times They Are a Changin': Angels Finally Top Red Sox in Playoffs

They say the third time’s the charm. For the Los Angeles Angels, it was actually the fifth.

For the past two seasons, and four times overall (1986, 2004, 2007-08) the Angels' postseason dreams were shattered by the Red Sox. Prior to this postseason most observers believed that trend would continue and the Los Angeles Angels from Anaheim would suffer another heartbreaking end to their season.

It seems that, as Bob Dylan would say, the times they are a changin’.

In what can only be considered a rather shocking upset, the Angels got to the second-best closer in the game, and did something they’d never done in the history of their franchise; sweep a team in the playoffs.

Mike Scoscia had led his Los Angeles club to a season series victory over the boys from Beantown, winning five of the nine games when they faced Boston. That, however, didn’t keep most pundits from believing the Angels would once again succumb to the history surrounding these two franchises.

Torii Hunter, for one, wasn’t buying into that thinking, though. In a post-game statement in the clubhouse he said, “I told you guys earlier: It’s going to be a different scene. Vladdy came through. That’s probably one of the biggest hits of his career. They’ve been waiting for him to do it, and he did it.”

The hit Hunter was referring to was a first-pitch smash against Jonathan Papelbon by Vladimir Guerrero to center field that allowed Chone Figgins and Bobby Abreu to race home and give the Angels a stunning 7-6 lead over the Boston Red Sox and which silenced the Fenway crowd.

Torii had a prime view of that game-winning, and as it turned out, series-winning hit by “Vladdy," as he had been intentionally walked to get to Guerrero, who the Red Sox figured would be a better wager than facing Hunter. Turns out they bet on the wrong horse; Vladimir won this race by far more than a nose.

The Red Sox had their chance in the bottom of the ninth, but were unable to get to the MLB saves leader, Brian Fuentes, who pitched the ninth for the Angels. As the weakly popped-up ball from Dustin Pedroia’s bat fell into the glove of Erick Aybar, the quiet fans above the Green Monster and around the park sat bewildered, unable to fully comprehend how much their fortunes had changed from years past.

This was the Angels, after all. Sure, they’d won the first two games in Los Angeles. But the Red Sox Nation fully believed they could have stolen one of those games. This was the Angels, who were, according to tradition, supposed to fold up like a cheap tent from the nearest dollar store; weren’t they?

Apparently no one told the boys from Anaheim that.

Papelbon had been one strike away from extending the series in the top of the ninth, but was incapable of getting a batter out. Three straight hitters came to the plate against the ace closer, and all three came away the victor. First Aybar singled a two-strike pitch, Figgins worked a walk after battling at the plate to get a full-count, and Bobby Abreu fouled off three pitches before bringing home a run with a double.

The fans in Los Angeles, watching this on the big screens in their homes, must have been going nuts. They were finally seeing the redemption they’d longed for. They were finally exacting the revenge they’d hoped to savor when their boys climbed on the plane and headed East to the dreaded haunts of Fenway.

They say revenge is a dish best served cold. Well, the cold confines of Fenway were probably the best place the Angels and their fans could have gotten their revenge on the Red Sox then. Winning at home wouldn’t have carried quite the sweet joy they are feeling right now, knowing they can sit and rest, waiting on the winner of the Yankees-Twins series.

They can enjoy watching Torii Hunter emerge from the visitor’s clubhouse at Fenway on television, spraying champagne over fans and family gathered to greet him, knowing that the time has finally come. They’ve busted through.

I’m a Marlins fan, but I thoroughly enjoyed this win for the Angels, especially after the tragedy that befell the franchise at the beginning of the year when a drunk driver, Anthony Thomas Gallo, unfortunately took the life of Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart along with the lives of two others.

I have nothing against the Red Sox (I’ve rooted hard for them in the past, especially against the Evil Empire known as the New York Yankees), but this is the Angels' year in my view, and this was a sweet victory.

The times they are a changin’, and here’s hoping the Angels will face the Dodgers in a Freeway Series for the ages.