Don't bring any talk of a "hex" by Torii Hunter's locker. That was the center fielder's stern message to reporters who dared to broach the topic of the Boston Red Sox's playoff dominance of the Angels in the days leading up to the American League division series.
"I told you, I'm a different breed," Hunter barked when asked if the Red Sox were in the Angels' heads. "You might not want to ask me that question."
Hunter couldn't have hammered his point home any better Thursday night, driving a prodigious three-run home run to center field to snap a scoreless fifth-inning tie and propel the Angels to a 5-0 victory in Game 1 over their playoff nemesis at Angel Stadium.
Angels ace John Lackey delivered like the big-game pitcher he proclaims to be, allowing four hits over 7 1/3 masterful innings for his first postseason victory since Game 7 of the 2002 World Series, leaving to a thunderous standing ovation in the eighth.
The Angels snapped a five-game home playoff losing streak to the Red Sox, who won five games at Angel Stadium and went 9-1 in division series wins over the Angels in 2004, 2007 and 2008.
It was the Angels' first postseason shutout.
Game 2 of the best-of-five series is tonight.
"We don't really care about that; we'll let you guys worry about that," Hunter said of the supposed hex. "We just go out there and play the game.
"Sometimes you read all that stuff and it can get into your head, but I stay away from it. You guys ask the questions, I try to do the best I can to explain to you guys that we really don't give a damn."
Lackey was tired of such talk, as well, practically snorting at the mention of a "hex" during a pre-series news conference. Then he did his part to snuff out such talk, giving up four hits, all singles, striking out four and walking one.
Lackey allowed only three runners to reach second before yielding to veteran left-hander Darren Oliver, who retired all five batters he faced.
Lackey pounded the zone with his fastball early, throwing strike one to his first eight batters, and he kept the Red Sox off-balance with his curve and sinking fastball to give the Angels their first division series Game 1 victory in six tries.
"That's a long way to pitch against that lineup, to get us 22 outs like that," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "That's a tremendous effort."
Lackey, winless in his last six playoff starts, savored postseason victory for the first time since he was a rookie in 2002.
