big joe

Rest assured the Los Angeles Angels won't be pondering a possible playoff showdown with Boston when they open a three-game set Tuesday at Fenway Park.
The Angels and Red Sox meet for the second time this season in Beantown with the defending champs holding a 4-3 advantage. Boston, winners in two of three during the initial series at Fenway, has won 12 of its last 17 home outings versus the Angels.

The scoreboard operator could be in for a busy night when John Lackey (11-5, 3.45 ERA) and Tim Wakefield (14-10, 4.41 ERA) square off in the series opener.

Wakefield lost at Anaheim in mid-August when he allowed six runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. The veteran knuckleball specialist has given up 11 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings in his last two appearances versus Boston. Wakefield has also been roughed up for 15 earned runs over 18 1/3 innings in his three starts this season. Nevertheless, Wakefield is 7-4 at home with a 4.23 ERA.

Lackey, 0-7 lifetime versus the Red Sox with an ERA well over 6.00, is 0-3 at Fenway with a bloated 10.13 ERA. However, the Halos are 10-5 on the highway when they hand the ball to Lackey.

Boston leads the AL in hitting with a .284 average. The Red Sox are also tops in runs scored, RBI's, doubles and on-base percentage. Los Angeles tied Boston for the highest team batting average in 2004, but has not been quite so productive this season.

The Angels have scored three runs or less in nine of their last 13 games and have been on the low side in 12 of their last 15 games. Boston had scored seven runs or more in 14 straight games at home until falling below that standard in two of three versus Baltimore this weekend.

Most offshore sports books opened the Red Sox as $1.35 home favorites, with the total set at 9 ½ ‘over’ (minus $1.20).