For starters, Sox roll.

Byline: Bill Ballou

ALDS GAME1: RED SOX 4, ANGELS 1

ANGEL STADIUM, ANAHEIM, CALIF.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E

Boston 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 4 8 1

Los Angeles 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 9 1

Winning pitcher: Lester (1-0). Losing pitcher: Lackey (0-1).

How the runs were scored

ANGELS THIRD - With one out, Anderson singled to left. Teixeira struck out. Guerrero reached on Lowrie's fielding error, Anderson to second. Hunter singled to left, Anderson scored. ONE RUN.

RED SOX SIXTH - With one out, Youkilis walked. Drew struck out. Bay homered (1) to left, Youkilis scored. TWO RUNS.

RED SOX NINTH - Lowrie singled to left. Varitek sacrificed, 3-unassisted, Lowrie to second. Ellsbury singled to right, Lowrie scored. Ellsbury stole second. Pedroia grounded to the pitcher, Ellsbury to third. Ortiz singled to center, Ellsbury scored. TWO RUNS.

Doesn't like to fly coach

There is perhaps nothing that manager Terry Francona detests more than being called "coach." He takes it personally, in fact. So, he was less than pleased yesterday when informed that, in the official transcript from his off-day press conference put out by Major League Baseball, he was referred to as "Coach Francona."

Halfway to Hooper

Jason Varitek started at catcher and played in his 54th postseason game, most ever by a Red Sox player. Varitek has appeared in 13 playoff series, also the most ever by a Boston player. However, his records are a little misleading since until the Sox played Oakland in the 1975 ALCS, the only postseason action available was the World Series. Varitek has played in the 2004 and 2007 World Series.

Harry Hooper appeared in four World Series in a Red Sox uniform - 1912, 1915, 1916 and 1918. That is the franchise record. Several other players, including Babe Ruth, appeared in three World Series for Boston.

Long way to go

Josh Beckett played long toss before the game and got as far as 150 feet. He will throw a side session today if he continues to feel strong, but Francona declined to declare him a sure thing for Game 3.

"We reserve the right to make a change if we don't think it's in his best interest physically," the manager said, "but he's had a real good last couple of days and (yesterday) was another good day."

Twice as nice

Jacoby Ellsbury's leadoff double in the first inning extended his postseason streak to three straight games with at least one double. Ellsbury had three doubles in Game 3 of the 2007 World Series in Colorado, then had another double in Game 4.

Kept his Sox off

Angels first baseman Mark Teixeira was Boston's ninth-round pick in the 1998 amateur draft but didn't sign with the Sox, opting to play college baseball at Georgia Tech instead. He was asked about that decision.

"What it came down to," he said, "is that I was 18 years old and I wanted to have a little more fun. The low minor leagues, a lot of guys will tell you, are not fun and for me at that point in my career - it was the beginning of what I thought was going to be a productive major league career - hopefully three years of college was a better option than, you know, `A' ball, rookie ball. And I wanted to go to college for a few years."

Series at a glance

Game 1

Yesterday: Boston 4, Los Angeles 1

Game 2

Tomorrow: Boston (Matsuzaka 18-3) at Los Angeles (Santana 16-7), 9:37 p.m.

Game 3

Sunday: Los Angeles (Saunders 17-7) at Boston (Beckett 12-10), TBA 

Game 4

Monday: Los Angeles at Boston, TBA, if necessary

Game 5

Wednesday: Boston at Los Angeles, TBA, if necessary

NAME: BOSTON RED SOX 

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Red Sox starter Jon Lester didn't allow an earned run in seven innings.

PHOTOG: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS