He didn't lack anything this time around

Last night was a breakthrough for a No. 1 pitcher who had pitched like a journeyman here.

"You guys keep bringing that up," said John Lackey after he nearly no-hit the Red Sox at Fenway Park, where he had been 1-4 with a 7.46 ERA. "There were definitely some adjustments, but nothing I'm going to tell y'all."

He picked a great night to do it. The Angels were buoyed by a deal for Mark Teixeira, then Lackey went out and dominated the Sox, finally allowing Dustin Pedroia's single with one away in the ninth inning.

Lackey hit J.D. Drew with a pitch in the second, walked Pedroia in the sixth, then Pedroia broke up the no-no with a single to left.

Even though Kevin Youkilis followed with a homer for the 6-2 final, the impression Lackey left is that he can beat this team.

"I was throwing strikes a lot," said Lackey, who beat the visiting Sox, 11-3, July 18. "I was really challenging guys. My fastball was locating pretty well all night and I kind of mixed in my breaking ball later in the game."

The Angels had the lead most of the night, so Lackey said he was able to challenge more hitters with fastballs. He threw a slider to David Ortiz, who nearly ended the no-hit bid with a fly to right in the seventh that was caught by Vladimir Guerrero on the warning track. "That had a chance to get out," said Lackey. "That's the beauty of runs."

Lackey didn't seem to mind losing the no-hitter. "I just wanted to win the game," he said. "The no-hitter would have been nice, whatever, but we're about winning games."

He also thought his ability to throw first-pitch strikes was important. "I was challenging guys with my fastball early on and pretty much throughout the game," he said. "I was lucky enough some guys hit the ball at people and things just kind of kept rolling for me."

Mike Scioscia understood the significance of what Lackey did.

"That was routine for John, the way he threw the ball," said the Angels' manager. "Great command of all his pitches. I think he finally brought that game out to the mound in Boston. He's had a little trouble here or there, but when he's on and making his pitches, he can pitch against any lineup."

Lackey acknowledged that "it's a tough ballpark to pitch in, but you've got to approach it the same way you would wherever you are. You have to make quality pitches at the right time. Challenge the hitters."