--3B Mike Lowell might have played his last postseason game of 2008 after getting replaced on the ALDS roster by SS Gil Velazquez because of the severity of his injured right hip. Lowell hobbled through Games 1 and 3 with a partially torn labrum in his right hip and was clearly having difficulty moving around during the later innings of the Game 3 loss Sunday night. Lowell was 0-for-8 in the series before getting removed and, by rule, is now ineligible for Boston's ALCS roster. The 34-year-old has already conceded that the right hip will likely require surgery when the season is over, but he hopes to be back for any potential World Series. "He's hurting," manager Terry Francona said. "It's difficult for him right now because he's pretty banged up."
--2B Dustin Pedroia suffered through an 0-for-15 slump to start the 2008 ALDS, but he broke through for a clutch RBI double in the bottom of the fifth inning on Monday night. The two-base hit gave the Sox a temporary lead and ended the drought for Boston's MVP candidate. Pedroia, who finished the ALDS with a .059 batting average, also slumped to a .154 batting average in last season's opening round of the playoffs. Despite the struggles, the Sox weren't overly concerned about Pedroia. "When he was hitting about .400 this summer for about two months, whenever he would make an out he was mad," manager Terry Francona said. "He takes a lot of responsibility for helping us win. I think there is a big difference between being mad and being either frustrated or panicked. When we don't win, he gets mad." --LHP Jon Lester didn't allow an earned in 14 innings of Division Series play this season, the most ever innings for a pitcher with a 0.00 ERA during any one Division Series. Pedro Martinez had previously held the mark after allowing no earned runs in 10 innings with the Sox during the 1999 Division Series against Cleveland. Lester is up to 224 1/3 innings for the season, but the Sox indicated that Lester won't face any innings limits during the playoffs. "We're not going to hold him back," manager Terry Francona said. "There's plenty of time in the winter to figure out how you want to handle a pitching staff for next year. This kid is one of the best pitchers in the league right now."
--LF Jason Bay went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a double, and he scored Boston's winning run in the bottom of the ninth with a head-first slide into home plate. Bay scored a run in each of Boston's wins in the series and finished his first playoff series hitting .412 (7-for-17) with four extra-base hits and 5 RBIs during the four-game series. "Jason Bay has been a monster for us," said 3B Mike Lowell. "Not only down the stretch (of the regular season) but also in the postseason."
--C Jason Varitek played in his 23rd Division Series game and climbed into second place all-time in Division series appearances by a catcher behind only Jorge Posada (39 games). The Sox captain scored one of Boston's three runs on the night and also pulled off a pivotal defensive play when he sniffed out an Angels suicide-squeeze attempt in the top of the ninth. "We're well aware (of the squeeze play)," said Varitek. "They've done it to us multiple times since I've been here. They did it earlier this year, and we discussed it before Manny (Delcarmen) made any pitches."
BY THE NUMBERS: 0.77 -- LHP Jon Lester's postseason ERA in 23 1/3 career innings.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We were dreading it. I almost felt bad bringing my luggage here to the ballpark this afternoon. But we?re very happy to get it done here and now. You never know what can happen in a Game 5." -- CF Jacoby Ellsbury, speaking to the Boston Herald, on the possibility of having to go back to Anaheim to finish the AL Division Series with the Angels. The Red Sox avoided the trip by winning the series Monday.
