--LF Jason Bay smashed a big three-run homer in Game 2 and became the first player in Sox history to homer in his two career postseason games. There were some questions about how Bay would perform in his first postseason experience after toiling with the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates for much of his major league career, but he has answered those questions and then some in helping the Sox take a lead in the Division Series. "The atmosphere is a lot different, but playing in Boston in all kinds of big games really eased me into this," Bay said of staying grounded in the postseason.
--DH David Ortiz singled in the first inning of Game 2 and extended his Division Series hitting streak to 13 games, which ties former Yankees OF Bernie Williams for the second-longest hitting streak in ALDS history. The record is 15 by Yankees SS Derek Jeter. Ortiz also got his 39th career postseason RBI in game, the highest total in franchise history. --RHP Jonathan Papelbon earned the win in Game 2 by throwing two scoreless innings and has worked 17 2/3 scoreless innings over 11 playoff appearances with the Sox. Only Joe Niekro has more, with 20 scoreless innings pitched in the playoffs, but Papelbon has certainly become someone who is synonymous with baseball success in October. The Sox closer is 5-for-5 in save opportunities during the postseason and boasts a 2-0 record. "I'm just taking everything pitch by pitch right now," said Papelbon. "That's the best way to do it."
--3B Mike Lowell didn't appear in Game 2 but is expected to play against Angels LHP Joe Saunders in Game 3 on Sunday night. Lowell has been playing with a partially torn labrum in his right hip for the last few months, and the injury has limited his mobility in the field. Manager Terry Francona stressed that the injury hadn't worsened, but he instead preferred to start Kevin Youkilis at third base and Mark Kotsay at first base because of the specific matchups against Angels pitching.
--RHP Josh Beckett threw 67 pitches with considerable effort in an amped-up bullpen session on Thursday afternoon, an encouraging step that locked the Sox ace into the Game 3 start on Sunday night. Pitching coach John Farrell was enthused about Beckett's ability to extend fully in his delivery and finish low-and-away fastballs to right-handed batters -- a sign that his slight right oblique strain has sufficiently healed. "He's ready to go," said manager Terry Francona. "Sixty-seven pitches is a long side session, but I think for his piece of mind and his ability to go out and try to be better than the team we're playing, this was the correct way to do it."
BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- Games OF J.D. Drew had played in after Aug. 17 before collecting three hits and a game-winning two-run homer in Game 2 of the AL Division Series. Drew was hampered by a stiff lower back for most of the last six weeks of the season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "You can't measure greatness over two or three seasons. To me, greatness is over a time period. October is a time where there's no mistakes and no time for error. You have to perfect. That's what October is all about." -- RHP Jonathan Papelbon
