K-Rod, Angels close out Sox, 4-2

ANAHEIM -- Francisco Rodriguez, who saved 38 games before the All-Star break, most saves before the break in A-S history, got the summons to close out the Sox after Scot Shields struck out rookie Jed Lowrie on three pitches with the bases loaded to end the eighth.

Rodriguez struck out Jacoby Ellsbury to start the ninth, but Dustin Pedroia followed by dumping a single into right, his second hit of the game.

The Sox were 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position entering the ninth, the only hit Kevin Youkilis's home run after Manny Ramirez's double in the second.

K-Rod walked J.D. Drew, bringing up Manny. It was against K-Rod that Manny hit his epic, 3-R walkoff HR to end Game 2 of the AL Division Series last October. This time, Manny popped to second.

That left it up to Mike Lowell, who popped the next pitch to third to end it. This time, it was K-Rod, arms thrust skyward.