Angels, Yanks take command

ANAHEIM, California – Another dominant Los Angeles pitching display gave the Angels a 4-1 win over Boston on 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 on 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.

In New York, Mark Teixeira hit a leadoff homer in the 11th inning to give New York a 4-3 win and 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.     (AP)