Another dominant Los Angeles pitching display gave the Angels a 4-1 win over Boston Friday, pushing the Red Sox to the brink of elimination from the American League playoffs. A day after John Lackey shut down Boston, L.A. pitcher Jered Weaver yielded only two hits while dominating the Red Sox into the eighth inning and giving the Angels a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Game 3 is Sunday at Boston's Fenway Park, with Boston pitcher Clay Buchholz facing Angels newcomer Scott Kazmir. The Angels went ahead Friday when Maicer Izturis got an RBI single, followed by Erick Aybar's two-run triple during the Angels' two-out rally in the seventh inning. That broke up a stellar pitching duel between Weaver and Josh Beckett, Boston's ace and most reliable playoff performer. “These two guys were matching each other pitch for pitch,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “We did a really good job of staying focused, settling down. ... The only way we're going to beat good pitching is to pitch with them, and we were able to do that the first couple of nights.” Beckett yielded four runs in 6 2-3 innings during his first playoff loss in a Red Sox uniform. It was his first defeat in nine postseason starts since the 2003 World Series. The Red Sox eliminated the Angels in three of the past five postseasons, but they've mustered just one run and eight hits in the series' first two games. “We've had a tough time these last two games swinging the bat, that's an understatement,” Boston manager Terry Francona said. The Red Sox scored their only run of the series in the fourth on Victor Martinez's RBI single. Boston got the tying run to the plate in the ninth with Kevin Youkilis doubled and Jason Bay drew a two-out walk before Angels closer Brian Fuentes retired Mike Lowell on a flyball to centerfield. Yankees 4, Twins 3, 11 innings: In New York, Mark Teixeira hit a leadoff homer in the 11th inning to give New York a 2-0 series lead over Minnesota. Teixeira's drive off Jose Mijares hit the top of the left-field wall and skipped over as the Yankee Stadium crowd roared. Teixeira tossed aside his batting helmet as he approached home and was mobbed by teammates. “I don't think there's anything better in sports,” he said as his teammates celebrated around him. “I got chills right now.” Alex Rodriguez hit a tying, two-run homer in the ninth after a leadoff single by Teixeira. Rodriguez also had a two-out RBI single for the Yankees, who are off to their first 2-0 postseason start since 1999. Minnesota was hurt by a blown call by left-field umpire Phil Cuzzi in the top of the 11th. Joe Mauer started the inning with a drive down the line that appeared to go off Melky Cabrera's glove before clearly landing about a foot inside the line and bouncing into the stands, but Cuzzi ruled it foul. Mauer ended up with a single when he should have had a ground-rule double. The Twins went on to load the bases with no outs but failed to score when pitcher David Robertson retired three straight to end the inning. Teixeira then hit his first career postseason homer to win it. It was New York's first game-ending shot in the postseason since 2003. Yankees veteran pitcher Andy Pettitte will try to close out the series when he faces former teammate Carl Pavano in Game 3 Sunday at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. The Yankees improved to 9-0 against the Twins this season. Minnesota has led in all six games at the Bronx, but has failed to win any of them.
