MLB: Los Angeles Angels 5, Boston 0

ANAHEIM, Calif., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- John Lackey allowed four hits over 7 1/3 innings Thursday and Torii Hunter hit a three-run homer to give the Los Angeles Angels a 5-0 playoff win over Boston.

It was only the second victory for the Angels over the Red Sox in their last 14 post-season meetings.

In the opening game of their American League Division Series, Lackey collected his first post-season victory in seven years. He walked just one batter, struck out four and threw 114 pitches before being relieved by Darren Oliver with one out in the eighth and a runner on second base.

Lackey retired the first eight batters he faced but Boston's Jon Lester matched him early in the game with four shutout innings. Lester then gave up a leadoff double to Erick Aybar in the fifth and, after Bobby Abreu drew a one-out walk, Hunter hit a home run to left-center.

Kendry Morales added a two-run single in the seventh.

This is the third straight year the Red Sox and Angels have met in the opening round of the playoffs. Boston dominated in both 2008 and 2007, eliminating Los Angeles in four games last year and sweeping the Angels in three games in 2007.

Boston also knocked the Angels out of the playoffs in the opening round in 2004 en route to the franchise's first World Series title since 1918.

The second game of the best-of-five series will be played in Anaheim Friday.