Same game, only scenario has changed for playoff rookies

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Last year, Jed Lowrie, Jason Bay, and Justin Masterson all retreated to the creature comforts of their homes and watched the playoffs on high-definition television, feet propped up, favorite beverage in hand.

But last night? They went from being spectators to first-time participants in the playoffs when the Red Sox squared off against the Angels in Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Angel Stadium.

Bay, who hit .293 with nine home runs and 37 RBIs in 49 games since being acquired from the Pirates July 29, was penciled in manager Terry Francona's lineup at left field in the No. 6 hole, and switch-hitting shortstop Lowrie, who hit .258 during the regular season, was slotted in the No. 8 hole. Masterson was one of 10 pitchers listed on the Sox' playoff roster. He was 6-5 with a 3.16 ERA in 88 1/3 innings, and he held the opposition to a .216 average.

"It's not all of a sudden a different game," said Bay, who came from Pittsburgh, where he toiled fruitlessly for five seasons without a whiff of the postseason. "It's basically the same stuff, the same routine, and I'm trying to have the same mentality and just trying to win the game."

It was difficult, though, for Bay to contain his enthusiasm.

"I'm definitely excited," he said before last night's game. "Last year, I was home at this point, so it's nice to be able to go out there and be part of the postseason. I'm trying not to make too big a deal out of it. I'm just trying to keep it as normal as possible."

Lowrie didn't spend time on the team flight to Anaheim fretting about much.

"I slept most of the way," he said with a chuckle. "I had a pretty busy weekend and I had a lot of family in town [after the Sox wrapped up the regular season at Fenway Park against the Yankees], so I was just trying to catch up on some sleep."

Upon his arrival, Lowrie's eyes were wide open to the possibilities in his first playoff experience.

"It's exciting and it'll be a good experience," he said. "But don't get me wrong, we want to win and that's why we're here. But we're going to play some great teams and the Angels are a great team, but then again, when you're in the playoffs, you expect to play great teams."

Lowrie said he didn't have an urge to pull aside a veteran teammate and quiz him about what to expect.

"Obviously, if there's something I need to learn or something that needs to be said, I would expect to hear it," Lowrie said. "If there's any questions, I could go out and ask anybody who's gone through it before. But I'm not going to go out and ask a bunch of questions."

Lowrie would rather soak up the experience and put his stamp on it, much like Jacoby Ellsbury did last year during the postseason.

"I think that's part of the learning experience," Lowrie said. "It's going out there and doing it on your own. It's something that no one can tell you about; you just have to go do it. It's not like I'm going to lean on those guys just because they haven't been through it before. I think we're all strong enough personalities that we can kind of look within ourselves to know what we have to do."

So, what would be the biggest piece of advice Ellsbury would share with the playoff newbies?

"You're here for a reason, so don't try to do anything more and don't try to do anything less," he said. "Just be the same player."

Said Dustin Pedroia, "It's simple, really. It's the same game. Nothing changes because it's the playoffs. It's still the same game."

Still, there seemed to be strength, if not a sense of security, in the number of Sox players who are experiencing the playoffs for the first time.

"I think, overall, you have me and Jed in our first year and then there's guys like Jason Bay or Mark Kotsay, even Sean Casey, who never really experienced this huge thing," Masterson said. "I think we all come together and have experienced it the same way, but we have such a good veteran corps who have been through it that it kind of mellows everything out."

It certainly made for a comforting feeling on the flight to the West Coast.

"Oh, absolutely," Masterson said. "You always look to your veterans, guys who have the experience, because they will be the ones who will carry us and who will get us there and I just want to be able to jump on that train and say, 'Let me do my part.' "

Which is why being here certainly beats the alternative.

"Oh, yeah," Masterson said. "Last year, I was just hanging out in my house and watching it on TV."

Michael Vega can be reached at vega@globe.com.