That first playoff game. Wow. All the old feelings: goosebumps, shakes, heart palpitations, the urge to scream like Howard Dean and run and jump around. And when you get that last out, sweet relief. We needed to win one in Anaheim. We've done it! Now do it again and let's not look back goin' home!

Jon Lester is a deity among regulation human hurlers. Oh my him. Seriously.

I'm never afraid of "Peter Brady" Lackey, but he was good tonight. Until the Bay at bat--he'd K'd him twice on those outside breaking balls. Then in his third AB, Brady gives him one right over the heart. Bay takes it. Brady gets away with it...but stupidly throws it again. And Bay swung. Boom, we lead, 2-1.

How key was that Youk play where he threw out Vlad by 30 feet? Lowell running to tag Vlad before he got to third was like American Gladiators: Senior Division.

Masterson was great. Pap was great. And it's one game to none. Us.

Interestingly, Peter Brady doesn't look much like Peter Brady anymore with that slight beard and short hair. But it was funny how he was replaced by "cousin" Oliver.

So that's 10 straight vs. the Angels in the postseason, and yet another 8-game win streak in the postseason, as we had in '04.

We will all sleep well tonight. And as a bonus, the next night, as game two isn't until Friday. Yeaaaaaaahhhh!

*pic of Wicked Lester by me, 9/28/08