Angels are loose before Game 2

"Well, you know what the Red Sox have done," Hunter said this afternoon, a few hours before his team tried to even the American League division series with a win in Game 2 at Angel Stadium. "But at the same time . . . you can't give a team too much respect because you give 'em too much respect, you get laid back and you're like, 'oh, they're the Red Sox. They're the champions.'

"Forget that. You've got to come ready to play."

The Angels certainly looked as if they had done just that, with catcher Mike Napoli and reliever Scot Shields and Kevin Jepsen engaging teammates in a game of "Duck, Duck, Goose" during pregame warmups.

"These guys pretty much stay loose," Hunter said. "Baseball is a funny game. You can win the first game and end up losing a couple more so we're going to be patient and wait for [our] turn. Which is today."

Angels Manager Mike Scioscia agreed.

"These guys are loose," he said. "I don't think there is anything that is indicative of our guys maybe squeezing the bat too tight or . . . preparing any differently. These guys are ready to play. And I think the momentum of a short series swings pitch to pitch. And it's certainly game to game.

"We get this game tonight, the ball is in their court and that's what we need to focus on. The momentum switches quickly."

Although the Angels lost the first game of the best-of-five series, history is actually on their side. The team winning the opener of the ALDS has gone on to lose the series 14 times in 26 years. Plus the Angels lost the first regular-season game they played with Boston this year, then won the next eight in a row.

Both teams made some changes in their lineups today with the Angels starting Juan Rivera in right field in place of Gary Matthews Jr. Jeff Mathis also replaced Napoli behind the plate but that had more to do with Friday's starting pitcher, Ervin Santana, who is always paired with Mathis.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, benched the ailing Mike Lowell and moved Kevin Youkilis from first to third. Former Cal State Fullerton star Mark Kotsay takes Youkilis' place at first while former Dodger Alex Cora replaces rookie Jed Lowrie at shortstop.

Kotsay and Cora are hitting .429 combined against Santana with three doubles and four RBI in 21 at-bats.

As for his team's approach against Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka, Hunter said the free-swinging Angels wouldn't alter their style against the 18-game winner, who led the majors with 94 walks.

"What we're going to do is be aggressive. We're going to go out there and play our game, we're going to go out there and swing the bat," said Hunter, who has a homer and three RBIs against the Red Sox right-hander in seven career at-bats..

"Good luck, Matsuzaka."

kevin.baxter@latimes.com