Down 2-0, Angels face physical problems

Vladimir Guerrero and the Los Angeles Angels are banged up and on the brink of elimination. At least they're headed back to sunny California.

Guerrero left Friday night's playoff game against Boston in the eighth inning with a bruised left shoulder _ even though the game was tied and the slugger was due up second in the next inning. The Red Sox won 6-3 on Manny Ramirez's three-run homer in the ninth, giving Boston a 2-0 lead in the series.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he was hopeful that Guerrero, hurt when he was hit by a pitch in the seventh, would be ready for Game 3 on Sunday after he receives treatment on Saturday.

"We think he's going to be OK, but it's a little sore right now," Scioscia said. "He wasn't really going to be able to put a swing on the ball and there wasn't much he was going to be able to do.

"It was even hurting to lift his arm if he had to catch a fly ball."

If the Angels can't win Sunday and Monday at home, their season will be over. The good news: Los Angeles had the best home record in the majors at 54-27 this season.

"You try to stay as short in focus as you can in a series, bat to bat," Scioscia said, "and you try to scratch and claw your way back into a series. It can be done."

Fortunately for the Angels, they have plenty of experience with injuries and backups who are used to filling in.

"It's something we have to deal with but we've had it all year," reliever Scot Shields said. "Guys are used to it and hopefully that'll help us."

Guerrero started in right field for the first time since Sept. 4 because of an irritated right triceps that limited him to designated hitter duties.The Angels already were without center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., who was left off the division series roster after missing 14 games in September with a sprained left ankle and an irritated right knee.

And left fielder Garret Anderson has been playing with conjunctivitis in his right eye, although Scioscia said his vision has improved.

Guerrero is the key to the Angels offense. He hit .324 and led them with 27 homers and 125 RBIs. He also has said he's more comfortable when he plays the field.

In Boston's 4-0 win in the opener he had two of Los Angeles' four hits. On Friday, he was 0-for-3 and didn't get the ball out of the infield before being hit by Hideki Okajima's pitch.

"We'd like to be 100 percent but we've got a great bench," said outfielder Reggie Willits, who started the opener while Guerrero was the DH. "You can never make up for Vladimir Guerrero or guys like that. All you can do is try to step in and do your best."

That's been easier to do at home.

"We're definitely more comfortable there," Shields said, "but we have to come out and play good baseball no matter where you play."

But the Angels are hurting just as the Red Sox health is better than it has been in a long time.

David Ortiz, who reached base five times with a single and four walks, has been feeling much better since receiving a cortisone shot in his right knee that probably will need offseason surgery. Ramirez missed 24 straight games with a strained muscle in his left side but returned on Sept. 25 and finished the regular season strong.

The Angels hope their season has more than one game left.

"It's tough," said catcher Mike Napoli, who replaced Guerrero in the third spot in the order and popped up for the next to last out of the top of the ninth. "But we're comfortable with all the people we have in the clubhouse."