Traditionally Boston has always endured a second-half West Coast trip on its schedule, but this week the Sox -- on a six-game road stretch through Anaheim and Seattle -- will knock the entire West Coast road schedule out of the way when they've concluded their upcoming three-game series against Seattle.

"It's a long ways to go and it seems like we've been stuck out there a bunch the last few years," outfielder J.D. Drew said. "That is the one benefit of leaving to go out (west) early. Go out. Get it done. Then just work on things being at home."

Following this trip west, the Sox don't push any further west than Chicago, Kansas City and two trips to Texas against the Rangers in July and August.

Can packing for the West Coast early on be something the Sox can ultimately use to their advantage during the season's dog days?

"I don't know how many times we were across the world last year, and then on the West Coast to start," catcher Jason Varitek said. "It's good weather-wise. That's always a bonus to (go west) early and get them out of the way."

ANGELS 5, RED SOX 4 (12 innings): David Ortiz went 0-for-7, stranded 12 baserunners and managed only a dribbler in front of the plate with the bases loaded in the 12th inning in a frustrating defeat for Boston. Julio Lugo collected five hits in the loss, and Manny Delcarmen picked up his first loss of the season when he gave up the game-winning single in the 12th.