Brendan Donnelly is about the best major league source around when it comes to handicapping the Red Sox-Angels Division Series.
The 37-year-old pitched for the Sox during the 2007 season before succumbing to Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, and Donnelly -- who pitched for 13 different minor league and independent league teams before making it to the major leagues -- won a 2002 World Series title during his five-year career with the Angels. Asked for his scouting report, Donnelly predictably went with the "pitching is king" philosophy but gave a slight edge to the Angels -- a prediction that took a bit of a hit when the Sox outpitched the Halos in Game 1 Wednesday night.
"If I was gambling man, then I would say that they're both good teams. I think the Angels might be a more complete team," said Donnelly, who finished out the season with the Cleveland Indians after recovering from elbow surgery. "I think the Angels' starting pitching is a little better than the Red Sox, but the bottom line is that pitching wins in the playoffs.
"They are both good teams. They both have some speed and they both have some power. They both have good bullpens and are pretty even across the board. I think it's going to come down to starting pitching and who's going to show up and throw the ball better. For me it's too close to call."
One of the factors that had Donnelly shading toward the Angels was the midseason acquisition of first baseman Mark Teixeira. The slick-fielding free agent-to-be supplied the Angels with another power bat to pair with Vlad Guerrero and helped the Halos' offense score an additional run per game after his arrival on July 29.
"I think for years (the Angels) always needed that extra bat, and now they finally went out and got it," said Donnelly. "I think it's a credit to the new GM (Tony Reagins) that he went out and made a move after the old GM would just stand pat every year. Teixeira makes these two offenses pretty much even now."
One thing Donnelly was definitely 100 percent correct about was the assertion that everything in the postseason comes down to pitching. Boston left-hander Jon Lester spun a seven-inning gem Wednesday night that sets a tone for the entire series.
RED SOX 4, ANGELS 1: LF Jason Bay smashed a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning that erased the Angels' one-run lead and powered the Sox to victory. LHP Jon Lester allowed only a single unearned run in seven dominant, ace-like innings of work. The Sox won their 10th straight postseason game against the Angels, which marks the longest current string of consecutive playoff wins over one opponent.
