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1986 - Angels beat Red Sox 8-1 in Game 1 of the best of seven ALCS
Mike Witt threw a complete game 5 hitter and beat Roger Clemens and the Red Sox in Fenway Park to take a 1-0 lead in the American League Championship Series. A two out rally in the top of the second inning was the difference. With two gone and the bases empty, Bob Boone and Gary Pettis walked. Ruppert Jones singled in Boone, Wally Joyner doubled home Pettis and Brian Downing singled Jones and Joyner in to take a 4-0 lead.
Joyner would soon leave the series with a staph infection and the team would... well you will read about it all in the coming days.
2005 - Angels beat Yankees 11-7 in Game 3 of the ALDS, taking a 2-1 series lead
The Halos Heaven GAME THREAD and POSTGAME WRITEUP for this historic game.
Garret Anderson hit a three-run homerun off of Randy Johnson in the top of the first inning. It was raining. Bengie Molina hit a two-run homerun off of the Big Unit in the top of the third inning to make it 5-0.
Starter Paul Byrd wobbled, though. Nine batters came to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning and it was 5-4 Angels after the final out of the frame and Brendan Donnelly had replaced Byrd. In the fifth Donnelly faced two batters and they both scored, giving the Yankees the lead. Scot Shields was the pitcher of record when Darin Erstad hit a run-scorin single the next inning and scored on a base hit from Chone Figgins, putting the Angels up 7-6.
The lead would hold as the Angels added onto it. Jose Molina was pinch running for his brother Bengie when Steve Finley hit a squeeze bunt to score a run later in the game. Fun fun fun all around. Frankie got the save and the Angels were up 2 games to 1 in this best of five series.
2007 - Angels lose final game of ALDS to Boston, losing series 3-0
The Halos Heaven GAME THREAD and a POSTGAME FANPOST from the Goat Hill Tavern.
The game was a sickening 9-1 blowout in Anaheim. Garret Anderson had pink eye so bad that Reggie Willits ended up subbing for him after one plate appearance. Reggie Willits batted cleanup in a playoff game. Casey Kotchman was home with food poisoning. I'm not blaming injuries, I am blaming Boston for poisoning us.