Rust is no problem for the bullpen

BOSTON -- The Angels’ unusually patient approach at the plate in Friday’s second game of the American League division series ultimately wound up helping the Red Sox. Because Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka lasted only 4 2/3 innings -- in which he threw 96 pitches -- the Red Sox were able to give their league-leading bullpen its first game action in five days.

And Boston’s relievers were sharp despite the long rest. Javier Lopez, Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima and closer Jonathan Papelbon combined to pitch 4 1/3 innings of hitless relief, holding the Angels long enough for the Red Sox to rally to a 6-3 victory on Manny Ramirez’s walk-off three-run homer.

Unseen, however, were Jon Lester, Eric Gagne and Mike Timlin, who, with a day off today, will have gone a week since pitching when they show up at Angel Stadium for Game 3 on Sunday. That has made it a challenge for the pitchers, used to working every couple of days, to stay ready.

“They throw every other day -- if not every day -- to hitters” in practice, said bullpen coach Gary Tuck, who expected most, if not all, of his relievers to attend this afternoon’s optional workout at Angel Stadium.

“That will be the least of our problems,” Boston Manager Terry Francona said of the bullpen.

At 27, Josh Beckett, who shut out the Angels in a brilliant Game 1 performance, already has emerged as a team leader on a staff that includes Curt Schilling, author of a World Series shutout while Beckett was still in junior high.

When Boston called up baby-faced Clay Buchholz in August, Francona told him to follow Beckett around and Beckett took the compliment to heart, mentoring the precocious pitcher.

“Basically when he told me to go up there and watch Josh, it was about his workouts,” said Buchholz, 23, who beat the Angels in his big-league debut and threw a no-hitter against Baltimore in his second major league start. “[Beckett’s] intense with everything that he does. He sat down and talked to me about this off-season and told me what I needed to do to be ready to make the squad in the spring.”

Buchholz, who was in uniform Friday despite being left off the Red Sox’s playoff roster, did not make the trip to Anaheim with the team -- but then neither did Schilling nor Beckett. Boston’s scheduled starters for Games 3 and 4 at Angel Stadium boarded a flight for Southern California about two hours before Friday’s game.

The Red Sox got a scare in the top of the second when sparkplug second baseman Dustin Pedroia fell awkwardly on his left shoulder trying unsuccessfully to corral Kendry Morales’ ground single to right. But after being examined by a trainer, Pedroia stayed in the game.

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kevin.baxter@latimes.com