Sox Have a Little Extra

The bullpen lost another game for the Angels, and a team struggling to find its offense now must wonder about its relievers as well.

Scot Shields gave up two hits, a walk and a game-winning ground ball to Manny Ramirez in the 10th inning on Friday at Angel Stadium, giving the Boston Red Sox a 4-3 victory over the Angels.

Four of the Angels’ last five losses have been charged to relievers, three to Shields. Of the Angels’ 17 blown saves this season, nine have come within the past 21 games.

“Nothing is automatic,” Shields said after the Angels’ AL West lead over Oakland was cut to 1 1/2 games. “We’re human. We’re going out there fighting every day and trying our hardest. Sometimes it’s not going to happen.”

After Kevin Gregg and Francisco Rodriguez delivered three shutout innings of relief, the Red Sox tagged Shields for the loss.

“The last couple weeks haven’t been the greatest for us,” Shields said. “Kevin and Frankie came in and did a great job. I came in and I blew it. My confidence is still at the top of the world. I’m not going to back down.”

Neither is Angel Manager Mike Scioscia, despite the recent struggles of his three primary relievers -- Shields, Rodriguez and Brendan Donnelly.

“We feel good stacking up our bullpen against any bullpen. We still feel that way,” Scioscia said. “It’s not going to happen all the time. The vast majority of our season, these guys have held leads.”

With the score tied, 3-3, Gabe Kapler and Johnny Damon singled to start the 10th, the fourth hit of the evening for Damon. Edgar Renteria struck out, and then the Angels thought they had caught a break.

It was David Ortiz’s spot in the order, but he had been ejected after disputing a called third strike in his previous at-bat. In his place, the Red Sox sent up Roberto Petagine, who was playing in Japan a year ago and in triple A a month ago.

But, in a masterful 10-pitch appearance, Petagine fouled off four two-strike pitches before drawing a walk. That loaded the bases for Ramirez, whose ground ball drove in his 109th run of the season, tops in the major leagues.

The Angels tied the score in dramatic fashion, foiling the oh-so-trendy Vladimir Guerrero strategy in the process.

Boston starter Matt Clement stopped the Angels on one run through seven innings and 106 pitches, but the 3-1 lead he handed to Mike Timlin did not survive the eighth.

With one out, Orlando Cabrera singled, then stole second. Darin Erstad popped up, bringing Guerrero to the plate with first base open.

He represented the tying run, but the Red Sox walked him intentionally anyway. With Garret Anderson injured, opponents are happy to walk Guerrero and dare someone else to hurt them.

On this night, Bengie Molina did. On the first pitch to him, the Angels executed a double steal.

Molina delivered an outstanding at-bat, working the count from 0-2 to 3-2, then roping a single to left that drove home Cabrera and Guerrero and tied the score, 3-3.

Angel starter John Lackey was far from dominant, but the Red Sox had him on the ropes all evening without landing a knockout blow. He made a season-high 124 pitches in six innings and walked five, one shy of a season high.

But, under the contemporary standard of “kept his team in the game,” he passed. When he departed, the Angels trailed, 3-1.

In six innings off Lackey, the Red Sox put 14 runners on base. They stranded at least one in every inning and 11 in all, six in scoring position.

Damon’s ground ball scored a run in the second inning, and John Olerud doubled home two more in the fifth to give the Sox a 3-0 lead.