First off, I mus apologize for my lack of posts this season. I have been far too busy lately to keep up with every regular season game, but will try my best to stay up to date in the playoffs.

The Angels proved that their postseason wins against Boston this year are no flukes. In each game they experienced the three different kinds of victories. In game one, John Lackey pitched a gem through 7 and 1/3 innings, shutting out the Red Sox 5-0 with a Torii Hunter three-run homerun. In game two, Jered Weaver also went 7 and 1/3, giving up only one run and winning the game 4-1 over Boston. Today, the Angels were able to come back from a four-run deficit at one point to win 7-6. Across the country, Angel fans can finally say, “The Angels are headed to the ALCS.”

Entering the top of the ninth inning, prospects did not look good for the Angels. Although they would still be up one game with a loss, they were down by three runs and facing Boston’s star closer Papelbon, who had never given up a playoff run in his career. It seemed as though this streak would continue when the first two batters in Izturis and Matthews both popped out and Aybar had a 0-2 count. But then the tides turned as he singled and Chone Figgins walked. Bobby Abreu came up to the plate and hit a ball off the scoreboard, knocking in an RBI and reaching second on his double. Down by only a run here, Torii Hunter looked to score the tying run, but Boston decided to intentionally load the bases by walking Hunter to get to Vladimir Guerrero. In the past, teams would walk Vlad to get to any other Angel player, but lately his bat had gone cold. Now with two outs and the three game sweep on the line, Guerrero smacked a ball into the outfield and scored both Chone Figgins and Abreu to not only tie the game, but give the Angels their first lead of the ballgame 7-6. With a defensively solid bottom of the ninth by Fuentes to shut down the Boston lineup one-two-three, the Angels reversed their past and secured a spot in the 2009 ALCS for the first time over the Boston Red Sox – a miracle in the eyes of Angel fans everywhere. Not only have the Angels confirmed that they are able to defeat their former rival, but that they are indeed worthy of advancing into the ALCS to play either the New York Yankees or the Minnesota Twins on Friday. Congratulations Angels, and we’ll see you in the next round!