BOSTON - The Red Sox are putting some distance between them and the AL wild-card contenders.
Derek Lowe pitched effectively into the eighth inning and Boston took control of the wild-card race Thursday night by completing a three-game sweep of the Anaheim Angels with a 4-3 win, its season-high ninth straight victory.
"This is a special run that we are going on," Lowe said. "Especially the time of year, we are getting clutch hits, the defense was phenomenal. We're having fun."
The Angels, who entered the week trailing Boston by 11/2, had won 10 of 11 before running into the surging Red Sox.
Boston, which swept four from Detroit before its showdown with Anaheim, won despite stranding 14 and misplaying two fly balls in the outfield.
"It says that we're playing pretty well right now," said Johnny Damon, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI. "We have another tough team coming in, in Texas. We just have to keep playing tough."
Bill Mueller homered off Bartolo Colon to help the Red Sox win for the 15th time in 16 games. They moved 41/2 games ahead of Anaheim in the wild-card chase and remained 31/2 behind the East-leading Yankees.
Boston has won 10 straight at Fenway Park and is 7-0 on its 10-game homestand. The Red Sox have swept each of their past three home series. The last time that happened was April 19-May 4, 1994.
The Rangers, third in the wild-card standings, come to Boston for a three-game series beginning tonight. Boston will be seeking its first 10-game winning streak since July 1993.
The Angels fell four behind West-leading Oakland.
"Hey, they played great baseball for three days," Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia said. "We couldn't match it, and we've got to pick it up (today)."
Lowe allowed runs in each of the first three innings but recovered to pitch 71/3, giving up three runs and seven hits. He walked one and struck out six.
He was helped by a splendid catch from rightfielder Dave Roberts, who saved at least one run and ended the fourth inning by making a diving grab of Chone Figgins' liner and doubling Adam Kennedy off second with two runners on.
"That was one of the best catches I've ever seen," Boston manager Terry Francona said, "and talk about redeeming yourself right away."
Roberts started the trouble by dropping Kennedy's line drive for an error with one out before Jose Molina walked.
"The baseball gods looked out for me to give another opportunity for my mistake," Roberts said.
