John Lackey shows some bite
HELENE ELLIOTT
Right-hander comes up big against Red Sox and reaches a milestone in strikeouts.
John Lackey had his bark and his bite Friday, earning a rare victory over the Boston Red Sox in a game that he might later remember for more than being the night he recorded his 1,000th career strikeout.
Angels Manager Mike Scioscia affectionately calls Lackey his lead dog, the pitcher who sets an example for the rest of the staff not only with his numbers but his effort.
Lackey had struggled against the Red Sox throughout his career, losing six of his first seven decisions and compiling a 6.27 earned-run average in his first 12 career appearances against them.
And that doesn't count a six-inning outing in a loss to the Red Sox in last season's American League division series, in which he gave up four runs and nine hits in the first loss of what would be a Boston sweep.
"It's obvious these guys have been a challenge," Scioscia said of Lackey's troubles with the Red Sox. "They're a challenge for a lot of guys."
Lackey conquered that challenge Friday, helped by a superb infield defense that was everywhere and turned two double plays behind him to ease him out of jams.
The right-hander overcame a couple of misplaced pitches and lasted seven innings of the Angels' 11-3 rout of the Red Sox at red-drenched Angel Stadium.
Though Scioscia said before the game that Lackey didn't have to make any kind of statement with his performance, it sounded like one, anyway. Lackey (7-2) gave up three runs and five hits while striking out six, getting some breathing room only when the Angels scored four runs in the fifth and three in the sixth.
The second of his strikeouts was the 1,000th of his career, a fourth-inning foul tip by Kevin Youkilis on a curve ball.
That proved something about Lackey's resolve too, because Youkilis had slammed a two-run home run in the second inning -- and Youkilis had come to bat in the fourth as the second batter after Manny Ramirez had tied the score, 3-3, by launching a home run deep into the right-center field seats.
Lackey liked reaching 1,000 strikeouts so much that he started on the next 1,000, getting Sean Casey on a called third strike to end the inning.
"It's a long way from Nolan," Lackey said, referring to Nolan Ryan's major league record of 5,714 strikeouts.
Asked what he had done differently to change the pattern of his struggles against the Red Sox, Lackey assumed a serious expression.
"Let's talk about tonight. How about that?" he said.
