BOSTON (AP) -Vladimir Guerrero and the Los Angeles Angels are banged up and on the brink of elimination.
At least they’re headed back to sunny California.
Guerrero left Friday night’s playoff game against Boston in the eighth inning with a bruised left shoulder – even though the game was tied and the slugger was due up second in the next inning. The Red Sox won 6-3 on Manny Ramirez’s three-run homer in the ninth, giving Boston a 2-0 lead in the series.
If the Angels can’t win Sunday and Monday at home, their season will be over. The good news: Los Angeles had the best home record in the majors at 54-27 this season.
“You try to stay as short in focus as you can in a series, bat to bat,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, “and you try to scratch and claw your way back into a series. It can be done.”
Guerrero, who was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning, hadn’t started in right field since Sept. 4 because of an irritated right triceps that limited him to designated hitter duties.
The Angels already were without center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., who was left off the division series roster because of a left knee injury. And left fielder Garret Anderson has been playing with conjunctivitis in his right eye, although manager Mike Scioscia said his vision has improved.
Anderson went 2-for-4 Friday and walked with two outs in the top of the ninth but was stranded.
So the Angels are hurting just as the Red Sox health is better than it has been in a long time.
David Ortiz, who reached base five times with a single and four walks, has been feeling much better since receiving a cortisone shot in his right knee that probably will need offseason surgery. Ramirez missed 24 straight games with a strained muscle in his left side but returned on Sept. 25 and finished the season strong.
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