MLB: Boston 4, LA Angels 1

ANAHEIM, Calif., Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Jason Bay gave Boston the lead with a two-run homer in the sixth Wednesday and the Red Sox began the playoffs with a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

Boston has beaten the Angels in 10 consecutive post-season meetings.

Bay launched a long homer to left off John Lackey to give the Red Sox a 2-1 lead, Boston escaped a jam in the eighth and then padded the lead by scoring twice in the ninth.

Jacoby Ellsbury contributed three hits, scored a run, drove in another, stole a base and made a diving catch in center off a blooper by Mark Teixeira leading off the Los Angeles eighth.

Jon Lester allowed only an unearned run and struck out seven through seven innings to get the win. Justin Masterson escaped trouble in the eighth and Jonathan Papelbon came on in the ninth to get the save.

Lackey allowed three hits over five innings and was protecting a 1-0 lead when he walked Kevin Youkilis in the sixth. Bay came up with two out and looked at a strike before ripping a shot into the left field seats.

With Masterson on the mound in the eighth, Vladimir Guerrero attempted to go from first to third on a bloop hit by Torri Hunter. Guerrero, however, was easily thrown out to dampen a Los Angeles comeback bid.

Boston then added to its lead in the ninth on a single by Jed Lowrie, a sacrifice by Jason Varitek, an RBI single from Ellsbury, a stolen base and a run-scoring base hit by David Ortiz.