First off, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Easter and to also congratulate the Boston University Terriers for winning the National Championship in hockey.

Now to baseball, where things got a little out of hand in the 1st inning of the final game between the Sox and Angels. Bobby Abreu called time as Josh Beckett was delivering his pitch, sending it near Abreu’s head. Both benches cleared, some words were exchanged, and when the smoke cleared Torii Hunter, LA batting coach Mickey Hatcher, pitcher Justin Speier, and manager Mike Scioscia were heading to the locker room. Beckett really isn’t to blame since the late time threw him off his rythem, as it does to all pitchers, and the ball happened to be near Abreu. Had it been anyone other than Abreu—a former Yankee—and had the Adenhart tragedy not been so fresh in their minds, cooler heads most likely would have prevailed.

Kevin Youkilis and JD Drew started the offense in the 2nd with back-to-back solo home runs. The Angels would strike for three runs in the 3rd then one more in the 5th to take a 4-2 lead into the 6th. The Sox then drew within one that inning, but could not hold off LA, falling 5-4 and suffering their fourth loss of the season.

Boston heads to Oakland to take on the Athletics for a three game series. Jon Lester gets the ball for Boston, opposing Dallas Branden. First pitch is 10:05 in the east, 7:05 out west.

In an emotional night during which Nick Adenhart was honored, Boston dropped to the lowest you will see them all season—last place—after a 6-3 loss to the Angels.

Tim Wakefield was solid through six, giving up three runs on six hits, but Jered Weaver was better giving the Sox only one run—unearned—through 6.2 innings. After a rare poor performance by Justin Masterson in the 7th, a two run 8th could not pull the Red Sox out of the hole.

Reigning MVP Dustin Pedroia had a hit in three at-bats, a sign he might be coming out of his slump. Kevin Youkilis was 2 for 4 as he continues to tear the cover off the ball. It seems like him and Pedroia are evening each other out. For every line drive in the gap that Youkilis hits, Pedroia hits a line drive right at someone, like his scorcher into the glove of a leaping Chone Figgins.

I didn’t tune into this game until about the 4th inning since I wasn’t very pumped up for baseball after a 5-4 OT Bruins win over the Canadiens on Thursday which was Boston-Montreal at its best and ugliest. After the disappointing game on Friday, I’m still not very pumped up for baseball. I’ll still probably watch the game on FOX though, unless I go to the Boston Blazers fan fest at TD BanknorthGarden. Post-opening week April is always a dull time for me, especially when both the Celtics and Bruins are doing so well. Come the Yankees series on the 24th I’ll be back into it.

Red Sox Notes

Brad Penny makes his Sox debut today.

Jed Lowrie is just 1 for 11 so far on the season.

After three poor games against Tampa, Jacoby Ellsbury was 2 for 4 in Friday’s game.

Sox color commentator Jerry Remy fell ill before the game, leading NESN to bring in some guests to the booth, my personal favorite being the always entertaining color commentator for the Angels, Rex Hudler.

Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield, and Jonathan Papelbon all were excellent on the mound. Beckett did not allow a hit over two innings, Wakefield allowed just one hit and one walk, and Papelbon pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning.

The two representatives of the Red Sox on the United State’s WBC roster provided the offense. Dustin Pedroia put the Sox on the board in the sixth with a sacrifice fly and Kevin Youkilis belted a solo home run in the seventh to put the Red Sox in front.

The Red Sox head to Fort Lauderdale on Monday to face the Orioles at 1:05. Justin Masterson is expected to pitch. With the win against Minnesota, the Red Sox evened up the Mayor’s Cup series 1-1.