This postseason, Angels will face a new opponent

The Angels will be making their seventh appearance in the American League Division Series, and it will be the first time they won’t be playing either Boston or New York. A look at their previous six ALDS matchups:

2002

Angels 3, New York Yankees 1

The wild-card Angels weren’t expected to do much against the Yankees, who had won four of the last six World Series. The Yankees, backed by four home runs, won Game 1, 8-5, but the Angels stormed back to win the next three. Troy Glaus hit .313 with three home runs in the series.

2004

Boston 3, Angels 0

The Angels hit only .226 in the series as the offense was stymied by the Red Sox trifecta of Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe. Glaus again was the Angels’ star on offense, hitting .364 with two homers.

2005

Angels 3, New York Yankees 2

After splitting the first two games in New York, the Angels erupted for an 11-7 win over New York in Game 3. The Yankees pulled out a come-from-behind 3-2 victory in Game 3, setting up the decisive Game 5, where the Angels chased Mike Mussina early and held on for a 5-3 victory. Bengie Molina hit .444 with three homers.

2007

Boston 3, Angels 0

After losing Game 1, 4-0, to Josh Beckett, the Angels were tied with the Red Sox, 3-3, heading into the bottom of the ninth of Game 2. Manny Ramirez launched a three-run homer to end that game, and the Angels went down meekly to Boston, 9-1, in Game 3.

2008

Boston 3, Angels 1

The Angels faced their old nemesis the Red Sox again and quickly fell behind 2-0 before winning Game 3, thanks to two homers by Mike Napoli. Tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth of Game 4, Scot Shields gave up a double to Jason Bay and a single to Jed Lowrie to end the series.

2009

Angels 3, Boston 0

The Angels finally defeated the Red Sox in an ALDS, and made it look relatively easy. John Lackey and Darren Oliver shut down Boston in a 5-0 Game 1 victory, and Jered Weaver, Oliver, Kevin Jepsen and Brian Fuentes held the Red Sox to four hits in a 4-1 Game 2 win. It looked like the Red Sox would win Game 3, but the Angels scored three runs off of Jonathan Papelbon in the top of the ninth to sweep the series. Vladimir Guerrero had the key hit with a two-run single.