A native of greater Boston, Maureen Mullen is a freelance writer covering the Red Sox and Major League Baseball. Her work appears in the Boston Globe, MLB.com, the Lynn Daily Item and several other newspapers and Web sites. She is also the author of “Diary of a Red Sox Season, 2007,” chronicling the the team's World Series season with Sox legend Johnny Pesky, and “Yogi Was Up with a Guy on Third...,” conversations with more than 50 Hall of Famers remembering their favorite games from their careers.
What the Red Sox have to do on Sunday is pretty simple: Win or go home for the winter.
It won't be do-or-die time for the Red Sox, but it will be close as they take on the Angels in Game 2 of the ALDS. The Halos got the best of the Sox on Thursday, winning 5-0 thanks to a home run by Torii Hunter and outstanding pitching from John Lackey.
The Red Sox are making their 20th playoff appearance in their 109-year history in the American League.
On Friday night, Daisuke Matsuzaka posted another strong outing since coming off the disabled list Sept. 15. His effort helps to bolster the confidence in the starting rotation, which has been beset with various injuries and ailments. He improved his record (4-6, 5.76 ERA) as the Red Sox beat the Indians 6-2.
Jon Lester got the job done for the Red Sox on Thursday, and the Red Sox ended their six-game losing streak, the longest of the season.
Finally. Despite a shaky outing by Clay Buchholz, a loss to the Blue Jays Tuesday night, and a five-game losing streak, the Red Sox clinched the American League wild card and a playoff berth Tuesday night -- actually early Wednesday morning.
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