By Alan Siegel
Asiegel@eagletribune.com
October 06, 2008 10:06 am BOSTON — Call it rookie idealism or just naiveté, but Justin Masterson isn't worried. Even after last night's 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels in Game 3 of the American League Division Series, after all the blown chances, after five hours and 19 minutes of baseball, the rookie pitcher refused to say that the Red Sox have lost momentum. "I think we played well and they played well. Someone had to score a run there," he said after the 12-inning marathon. "It just happened that they did. A lot of opportunities were missed, but you know, we're going to come back (today 8:30 p.m. at Fenway Park) and do our thing. "I'm sure for them it's nice that they got a win, but I think for us it doesn't take anything away from what we already had." Angels shortstop Erick Aybar's bloop single off reliever Javier Lopez scored unlikely hero Mike Napoli (3 for 5, 2 home runs, 3 runs) with one out in the top of the 12th. It turned out to be the difference. "That's what we're looking for," Aybar said. "It's big because we're able to come back. The pressure, that's what we're looking forward to from here on." For Napoli, the 12th-inning single and run were the culmination of a huge night. "We're going up there to give it a tough at-bat every time," said the catcher, who hit a two-run homer in the third inning to tie the score 3-3 and added a solo shot in the fifth — both off starter Josh Beckett — to give Los Angeles a 4-3 lead. "So it just happens in the (12th) we came through. We're going to come out (today) and get after it again." For the Red Sox, it was the culmination of a night wasted. With two outs and Coco Crisp on second base in the 11th, second baseman Dustin Pedroia hit a rocket right at Angels third baseman Chone Figgins, who threw to first for the out. With two outs and the bases loaded in the 10th, shortstop Jed Lowrie lined out to Angels right fielder Gary Matthews Jr. Boston also wasted two scoreless innings from closer Jonathan Papelbon, whose status may be in doubt for tonight's Game 4. "We have to be ready," Manny Delcarmen said of the bullpen. He worked 1<2/3> scoreless innings. Lopez was the only reliever to give up a run all evening. Whether momentum truly shifted or not, Masterson isn't worried. "It's the playoffs," he said. "Guys will do their thing." Pedroia points finger at himself Dustin Pedroia was in a feisty mood afterward. The feisty MVP candidate went 0 for 5. He's a woeful 0 for 13 in the ALDS. "It's my fault man," he said. "I have to get on (expletive) base. That's it. I have to help our team win. I didn't do that. I haven't done that all series. I blame this one on me. Everyone else is battling. I am, too. But no results. Hopefully tonight we come out and win." Save for a freak three-run single by Jacoby Ellsbury off Joe Saunders and a wall-ball double by Kevin Youkilis off starter Joe Saunders, Pedroia and his teammates couldn't muster much off Angels pitchers. "They've got good stuff, they're hitting their spots, keeping balls out of the middle of the plate," Pedroia said. "That's about it." Lester on tap Lefty Jon Lester will get the ball tonight hoping for a repeat performance of his Game 1 outing, when he picked up the victory, allowing a single run over seven innings. "If he pitches the way he's pitched all year," said last night's starter Josh Beckett, who labored through five innings, allowing four runs on nine hits, "we've got a good chance." Ellsbury gets lucky Jacoby Ellsbury's second-inning bloop to center field, which inexplicably wasn't caught by center fielder Torii Hunter, second baseman Howie Kendrick or shortstop Erick Aybar, was the first three-run single in postseason history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Say what? Angels manager Mike Scioscia's pregame comments proved to be prophetic. He refused to entertain thoughts of a sweep at the hands of the Red Sox. "Well, first of all, we're not getting eliminated tonight, so I'm not going to answer that question," he said. "And we'll talk about that if it comes, up, because we're not going to talk about it right now."
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