Turning Point
Orlando Cabrera has already figured out how to part the Red Sea. With a three-run double in the top of the ninth, Cabrera sent waves of red-clad Angels fans to the exits. Talk about mass exodus.
The Red Sox shortstop not only turned around Game 2 and potentially the five-game series (Boston leads Anaheim 2-0), but turned around the Sox entire season. After taking over the six-spot for Nomar Garciaparra, he guided Boston to the best record in the major leagues with a solid glove and a quick bat.
From the Bench
Terry Francona effectively employed his bullpen in Game 2, bringing in reliever Mike Timlin to start the 8th inning, lefty Mike Myers to throw against lefty Garret Anderson, and, four pitches later, Keith Foulke for lights out. The succession of Timlin, Myers and Foulke sent Vladimir Guerrero, Anderson and Troy Glaus back to the dugout without a hit. That meant that the Angels sent the softest part of their lineup to the plate in the bottom of the ninth.
Clubhouse Confidential
The Angels will try to sleep off this loss. Instead of hopping on a plane to head to Boston for Game 3 on Friday, the Angels will rest at home on Wednesday night and head east Thursday morning. Besides being easier on the body clock, Angels manager Mike Scioscia has good reason for staying put the extra night. "The breakfasts are a little better on the planes, so we want to take advantage of that."
Francisco Rodriguez hadn't thrown a wild pitch in all of his 2004 outings at Angels Stadium. In Game 2, he hurled two out of his 44 pitches.
Bottom Line
That hole looks awfully deep for the Angels. Besides being winless at Fenway -- the site of their next two elimination games -- in the regular season, the last time the Angels fell behind 0-2 in the postseason was in '79, when Baltimore went on the win the American League Championship Series 3-1.
The good news? Anaheim ended the season with a 5-2 record on the road and set the AL record for road wins with 47.
