LOS ANGELES: The Boston Red Sox continued their post-season domination of the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday with a 4-1 triumph in the opener of their American League Division Series that stretched the winning streak to 10.

The Angels had taken eight of nine games in the regular-season series between the teams but Boston ripped up the form book to prove once again that the playoffs represent a different challenge altogether.

Red Sox left fielder Jason Bay drilled a go-ahead two-run homer off starter John Lackey in the sixth to give the visitors a winning advantage, while Boston starter Jon Lester hurled 117 pitches over seven innings in the victory.

"Once we got the lead, (Lester) came back with a vengeance," Red Sox manager Terry Francona told reporters. "He struck out the side the next inning and never gave in."

The 24-year-old left-hander, who won last year's World Series-clinching game for Boston, kept the Angels unsettled with offspeed pitches as he allowed one run and struck out seven.

Lester was pitching in place of leading starter Josh Beckett, who was unable to play because of a side muscle injury and is scheduled to pitch in Game Three.

"A little bit of everything was working for me," Lester said. "Some innings it was the cutter, some it was the curveball."

Dodgers 7 Cubs 2

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 7-2 in the first game of their National League division series on Wednesday, powered by James Loney's fifth-inning grand slam.

Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster issued consecutive two-out walks to load the bases and visiting Dodgers first baseman Loney broke the game open with one swing of the bat as Los Angeles chased the Chicago starter in the fifth.

"He's so unpredictable," Dodgers manager Joe Torre told reporters of Loney after his team rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Playoff-tested starter Derek Lowe went six innings for the Dodgers, struck out six and allowed just two runs and veteran Greg Maddux closed down things in the ninth.

Phillies 3 Brewers 1

The Philadelphia Phillies won their first playoff game for 15 years on Wednesday, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 in the opener of their best-of-five NL division series.

Cole Hamels pitched eight shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out nine batters, while Chase Utley recorded a two-run double in the third to put the NL East champions in control at a rain-sodden Citizens Bank Park.

Utley smacked a two-run double over Mike Cameron's reach to send the Phillies into a 3-0 lead and Brad Lidge allowed a run in the ninth before striking out Corey Hart to wrap up the win.

It was the first post-season win for the Phillies since they took Game Five of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Oct 21, 1993, and their fifth consecutive victory over Milwaukee.

Agencies

(China Daily 10/03/2008 page11)