If the Angels are to have a chance in this series, they are going to have to keep up with the Sox hitters offensively. Or they are going to have make more plays, such as the one by Chone Figgins in the eighth inning on Tuesday. Ramirez ripped a ball back through the middle of the diamond that first clipped pitcher Ramon Ortiz and then headed past second base. Figgins, hustled over, scooped up the ball and threw Ramirez out at first.

But the Angels might need more than hits and hustling to stop the Red Sox from celebrating in the streets around Fenway Park this weekend.

Vitals check
A look at key statistics through Game 1 of the ALDS.

Team stats

Digits		Trend	The Deal
ERA	2.00		this is why Schilling goes in Game 1
BA	.282		eleven hits by seven of the nine starters
BA w/ RISP	.307		even better (.750) with two outs and RISP
Runs	9		nothing quite like chasing the opponent's Game 1 starter in the fourth
Errors	1		only blemish was Schilling's seventh-inning wild throw to first

Who's hot?

Player	Digits	Trend	The Deal
Manny Ramirez	.400 BA, 1 HR, 3 RBI		possible MVP season spills over
Kevin Millar	.500 BA, 1 HR, 2 RBI		he's been scalding since early August
Curt Schilling	1-0, 2.70 ERA		he was in charge from the start

Who's not?

Player	Digits	Trend	The Deal
Mark Bellhorn	.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI		no hits in four at-bats and he struck out in the big inning

Behind the numbers
Schilling threw strikes (107 pitches, 75 strikes), while Washburn struggled a bit (79 pitches, 49 strikes) and walked three batters in 3 1/3 innings.

Frozen moment
After two quick outs in the first inning, Ramirez took Washburn deep in the count allowing all the Red Sox to see what Washburn had. Then Ramirez doubled and scored a tone-setting run on David Ortiz's single.

No second guess
There isn't much you can do when your horse (Vladimir Guerrero) is left in the starting gate. He was 0-for-5 and left four runners on base.

It's fundamental
The Angels' fate was forecast in the second inning when they had a chance to tie the game and failed. Troy Glaus led off with a double but was stranded by two fly outs and a groundout to third.

Lesson learned
The Red Sox lost the first two games in last year's ALDS in Oakland and had to fly back across the country to win Game 5. By winning earlier this time around, they might be able to save some energy for games later in October.

Last word
"It was a hard-fought series all year long. These guys aren't going to just throw their hands in the air." -- Mike Timlin

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.