The Los Angeles Angels liked their chances of taking a 2-0 lead in their American League Division Series with the Boston Red Sox on Friday night based on the man on the mound.
Game 2 starter Jered Weaver was the Angels’ most consistent and reliable pitcher this season, going 16-8 with a 3.75 earned-run average, but the right-hander was considerably better at home (9-3, 2.90) ERA than he was on the road (7-5, 4.78 ERA).
“I think most pitchers are going to be a little more comfortable at home,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “They get used to the mound. … We looked (at the numbers), and I think it did have an influence on what game we wanted Jered to start.”
Weaver started twice against the Red Sox in Angel Stadium this season, the first on April 10 in an emotionally charged game that was the team’s first after the death of pitcher Nick Adenhart in an automobile accident.
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Weaver allowed one run and four hits, struck out eight and walked two in a 6-3 victory that night. On May 12, Weaver allowed one run and four hits in seven innings for a no-decision in the Angels’ 4-3 loss to Boston.
Weaver will have a tough act to follow. John Lackey (7 1/3 innings) and Darren Oliver (1 2/3 innings) combined to shut out the Red Sox in a 5-0 Game 1 victory Thursday night, and the Red Sox will be desperate to scratch and claw its way back into the series.
“The Red Sox are a great team, and anybody in that lineup can hurt you,” Weaver said. “So there’s not really one guy that I’ve kind of got my sights on. You don’t get a breather one through nine.”
The Red Sox countered with Josh Beckett, who is 7-2 with a 2.90 ERA in his postseason career. But Beckett has been shaky lately, allowing a whopping 14 home runs in his last five starts.
“There (are) no issues physically at all,” Beckett said. “I’m just looking forward to going out there and doing what I’m supposed to do.”
The Angels on Thursday night snapped a five-game home playoff losing streak to the Red Sox.