Ten great things about the Game 1 victory

October 9, 5:08 AMLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim ExaminerWilliam Martinez

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AP/Chris Carlson

There are lists upon lists for everything these days, and well, after the Halos stunning domination of the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the ALDS on Thursday, why not a list for that too?

1 -- the number of wins the Halos have in the series, which is the same number that they had in the previous three series combined against the Red Sox.

Yes, we all know the stories. Boston had come into this series winners of 12 of the last 13 playoff games between the two clubs. They had also not trailed in a series against the Angels since rallying from a 3-1 hole in the now-infamous 1986 ALCS.

2 -- the number of blown calls that  first-base umpire C.B. Bucknor had last night that went in the Angels' favor. From the stands (and with no benefit of replay), it looked like the veteran umpire had made the right calls on a pair of Howie Kendrick grounders. However, upon seeing the replays, both Kevin Youklis and Terry Francona had valid arguments as Bucknor not only blew the calls, but blew them badly.

Here is hoping Bucknor doesn't have Maybelline syndrome on Friday night from behind the dish. 

3 -- The number of runs scoring on Torii Hunter's blast into the rockpile in center field. Hunter had a solid postseason last year, going 7-for-18 with five RBI in the four-game setback. However, based on his emotio both in the dugout and then during warmups between innings, the Halos' heart and soul was clearly ready to get the team past all of the talk about curses and hexes.

4 -- The number of hits Boston got off pitchers John Lackey and Darren Oliver in the opener. The Red Sox were never in the game, as Big John didn't only allowed one runner past second all night, on his final batter of the game. 

5 -- Walks drawn by the Halos on Thursday, four of them alone to Bobby Abreu. The veteran outfielder extended innings and got the Big Game Hunter up there time and time again with runners on, allowing Torii to do his thing and put the Angels on top.

6 -- The number of umpires that work each postseason series. Hopefully, guys like Bucknor and crew chief Joe West are given plane tickets home when the ALCS starts as both were simply horrendous in their 2009 playoff debuts.

7 -- The number of hits garnered by the Angels offense on Thursday. The Halos had runners on all night long against John Lester, who went from being the ace in the hole for Francona to yet another Boston pitcher to have a rough postseason outing. Last year, Josh Beckett was lit up as Tampa Bay did what the Angels couldn't last year. This time, Lester had an uncharacteristic outing, though in all fairness it is hard when you are having to face both Hunter and Vladimir Guerrero with runners on base the whole contest.

8 -- The inning that Big John lasted until. Lackey, who hadn't won a postseason start since his record-setting Game 7 victory in the 2002 World Series, was masterful. If the Angels figured to have trouble keeping him before that outing (which they were), imagine how much bigger the price tag just got for the native of Abilene, Texas.

9 -- Scoreless innings by the Red Sox in Game 1. Boston was shut out for the first time since Game 2 of the 1995 Division Series in Cleveland. The Sox ended up losing that series to the eventual American League champions.

10 -- The rating for the crowd at Angel Stadium. On a cool night, the Halos faithful showed up in a big way, cheering every key pitch and also making sure they actually kept their tickets. Red Sox Nation was conspicuously absent on Thursday, an unprecedented occurrence in Southern California. Bravo to the Angels fans.