Aren't you Vlad? Guerrero finally shines in postseason.

Byline: JILL PAINTER

BOSTON

Vladimir Guerrero, take a bow.

It's something he's rarely had a chance to do in the postseason.

Guerrero smiled and repeatedly pumped his right fist after hitting a two-out, two-run single to center in the top of the ninth inning to give the Angels a come-from-behind 7-6 victory Sunday over the Boston Red Sox to clinch the American League Division Series three games to none.

His heroics snapped Boston's longtime playoff hex over the Angels, who trailed 6-4 heading into the ninth. His heroics also snapped his own hex in the playoffs.

The postseason had cast a dark cloud over Guerrero, one he couldn't seem to shake.

The All-Star hitter was always an All-Star until October. His two RBIs in the ALDS clincher Sunday were his first since the 2005 AL Championship Series against the Chicago White Sox.

Guerrero had just seven RBIs in the playoffs in his career before Sunday.

"It's got to mean a lot to him," outfielder Torii Hunter said. "When he was at first, he had the biggest smile. Vlady rarely gets excited and for him to get excited, I'm so happy for him. He was like a little kid. It's one of the biggest hits of his career."

Guerrero hit a 95-mph fastball from Jonathan Papelbon, one of the game's best closers, to ensure an Angels sweep in the best-of-five series at Fenway Park.

Three Angels before him fought off two strikes to reach base. Hunter was intentionally walked to load the bases. Then Guerrero did something he's never done before: He became the hero of a playoff game.

Guerrero admitted the single was the biggest of his career, but not for the reasons you'd think. It had nothing to do with relief or excitement. It was the most important because he dedicated it to his fallen teammate, Nick Adenhart.

Adenhart was killed in April when the car he was riding in was struck by what authorities say was a drunken driver.

"Yes, it's one of the biggest hits," Guerrero said through an interpreter. "I'm not going to say it's the biggest hit. One thing that comes to mind is that we lost a teammate earlier this season. When it comes down to honoring Nick Adenhart and what happened in April, in that respect, yes, it's probably the biggest hit.

"I'm dedicating that to a former teammate who passed away. More than anything, I understood the importance of the situation. And to be able to come through is big."

If you understand Guerrero, you know his fist pump when he reached first base was akin to Hunter spiking his helmet in the dugout and feverishly yelling and high-fiving after his winning home run in Game 1.

It's hard to read Guerrero, since he's the same in good times and bad. He does interviews through an interpreter, but his expressions went beyond language barriers Sunday. He couldn't stop smiling.

He finally produced the biggest hit of his career in a meaningful game in October, and even he couldn't help but celebrate.

"I feel great for Vlad," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Hopefully, (it) was a momentum builder for him. That's the biggest hit he's had."

Scioscia pointed to Guerrero's grand slam in Game 3 of the ALDS against Boston in 2004 as evidence that the postseason hasn't been a total wash for Guerrero, but the Angels lost that game and were swept then, too.

Everyone, from owner Arte Moreno to John Lackey to Hunter and back, professed their happiness for Guerrero. He's well-liked and respected in the Angels clubhouse.

Everyone knows what a hit like that meant for the ALDS and what it could mean in the ALCS - and maybe beyond.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona had Papelbon intentionally walk Hunter to load the bases, and Guerrero delivered. There was plenty of Monday morning quarterbacking about that move afterward.

"How do you walk Torii to get to Vlady?" Moreno asked reporters.

"There's a lot of hits in that bat."

It's just that there weren't a lot of clutch October hits in that bat.

Said Hunter: "The scouting report said he couldn't hit the fastball. Sorry about it. He got it!"

Guerrero celebrated with teammates and poked his head outside the clubhouse door to see if family and friends were waiting after the game. It was almost as if he was a sheepish teenager, making sure his parents saw the game.

He shared a few hugs and listened to "Vlady! Vlady!" chants from a few Angels fans, then was whisked away to a news conference. By the time he returned, he went directly to the training room to get a bag of ice on his right knee while plenty of teammates were still spraying champagne.

"Vlady never changes," said Chone Figgins, who drew a walk and scored a run in the ninth. "He always wants to get big hits. Hall of Famers do stuff like that at the right time."

Guerrero did it at just the right time.

Finally, there was something worth celebrating in October.

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Photo:

(color) Vladimir Guerrero pumps his fist after delivering the go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning.

Jim Rogash/Getty Images