The L.A. Angels ousted the best team money can buy Monday night, setting up an intriguing American League Championship Series matchup against the best team period.
Despite the early loss of starter Bartolo Colon to a shoulder injury, the Angels knocked off the New York Yankees 5-3 in Game 5 of their AL Division Series, earning a chance to spoil the White Sox’s dream season.
Game 1 of the ALCS takes place Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field, with the Sox’s Jose Contreras likely facing Paul Byrd.
While a White Sox-Angels series may lack the hype and the history of a Yankees-Red Sox sequel, it does feature two hard-nosed, battle-tested teams who overcame late-season adversity and national skepticism to finish with the top two records in the American League.
The Angels went 6-4 against the White Sox during the regular season, including a 4-2 record at U.S. Cellular Field, where they won their last four meetings between the two.
L.A. beat the Yankees without the benefit of their ace after Colon was forced to leave with an inflamed right shoulder in the second inning. Angels manager Mike Scioscia called on 22-year-old rookie right-hander Ervin Santana, who survived a shaky start to notch the biggest win of his brief career.
After losing a late-inning lead and blowing Game 4 in New York, it appeared as though the Angels’ luck had finally run out when Colon walked off the mound in pain.
Instead, it was time to start spreading the news. The $200 million Yankees were going home for the winter, and California dreaming was alive and kicking in Anaheim.
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Blog alert
Want to climb inside the head of a few Angels fans?
Halosheaven.com: This blogger suggests specific iTunes songs for each game. Nice touch. Kids love the music.
Watchjeffdavanon.blogspot.com: There is a reason why this site is devoted to the Anaheim Angels’ Jeff DaVanon. We just haven’t discovered it yet.
Pearly-gates.blogspot.com: Where the “East Coast media bias conspiracy theory” is alive and well and living a life of luxury.
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Edited by Chris Malcolm (ccmalcolm@tribune.com) and Scott Kleinberg (skleinberg@tribune.com)
