How Angels got to ALCS

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Oct 13, 2009

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Gary Matthews Jr. and his Angels teammates celebrate a three-game sweep over the Red Sox in the ALDS. It was a bumpy and sometimes painful road to the ALCS for the Angels. Let’s see how they got here. Getty Images

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Torii Hunter (left) and John Lackey hold the jersey of their late teammate pitcher Nick Adenhart, during a moment of silence in memory of him before their baseball game against the Red Sox on Apr. 10. Adenhart, along with his two friends in a car accident on April 9 the previous night. REUTERS

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The Angels lost Mark Teixeira in free agency to the Yankees this offseason, but Kendry Morales has been a terrific replacement hitting .306 with 34 homers and 108 RBIs at first base this season. EPA

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Ex-Yankee Bobby Abreu continued his consistent career with 15 homers and 103 RBIs in his first year in Anaheim. Getty Images

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After missing the first month and a half of the season John Lackey returned to his usual role as ace of the Angels rotation. Lackey, who threw 7 1/3 shutout innings against the Red Sox in the ALDS opener, will start Game 1 of the ALCS against the Yankees. EPA

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It was not a banner year for Vladimir Guerrero, who did not hit .300 for the first time in 13 seasons. But Guerrero’s clutch single against the Red Sox in Game 3 of the ALDS put the Angels ahead when they were down to their last out. REUTERS

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The Yankees would be wise to keep speedster Chone Figgins off the base paths in the ALCS. The Angels leadoff man swiped 42 bases this season. Getty Images

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Torii Hunter is dangerous at the plate (22 homers, 90 RBIs) and is one of the top center fielders in the game. Just ask the A’s Kurt Suzuki, who Hunter took a home run away from on this play. AP

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Jered Weaver was tied for the team lead in wins with 16 and will oppose A.J. Burnett in Game 2 of the ALCS. EPA

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Lefty Joe Saunders, who went 16-7 this season, will likely start Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees. AP

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With Francisco Rodriguez signing with the Mets, the Angels brought in Brian Fuentes to be their closer. Fuentes had 48 saves, but blew seven opportunities and had a 3.93 ERA. EPA

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Howie Kendrick (center) was sent down to the minors earlier this year, but now is part of a solid platoon at second base with Maicer Izturis. EPA

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Ervin Santana gets mobbed by teammates after the Angles beat the Rangers, 11-0, to clinch the AL West for the fifth time in six years. Getty Images

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Former teammates drenched Nick Adenhart’s jersey after the Angels clinched the AL West. REUTERS

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Erick Aybar’s two-run triple iced the Angels’ 4-1 win over the Red Sox in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Red Sox. Aybar hits ninth in the Angels’ order, but his .312 average was eighth in the American League this season. AP

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