Hunter powers Angels over Red Sox

ANAHEIM, Calif.—John Lackey pitched into the eighth inning and Torii Hunter hit a three-run homer off the rock pile in center field, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in their playoff opener Thursday night.

Hunter’s shot broke open a scoreless game and appeared to topple any mental barriers Los Angeles might have faced against the Red Sox, who ended three of the Angels’ past five seasons in the division series, winning nine of 10 games. Boston didn’t manage an extra-base hit while getting shut out in the playoffs for the first time since Game 2 of the 1995 division series against Cleveland.

Game 2 is Friday night at Angel Stadium, with Boston’s Josh Beckett facing Jered Weaver.