BOSTON - J.D. Drew has taken a ton of abuse from fans this season, so he knows how difficult it can be to play in this market.

He made one quick and to-the-point statement after last night's 4-0 victory over the Angels in Game One of the ALDS at Fenway Park. He was besieged by a horde of local and national media when he said: "Fans in Boston love him."

The "him" he was referring to was none other than Kevin Youkilis.

Youkilis provided a huge offensive spark for Boston last night with a solo homer -- his first career postseason hit -- in the bottom of the first inning, giving the Sox a lead they never relinquished.

"I got a good pitch, a good fastball to hit, and took advantage," said Youkilis. "I didn't try to do too much, and luckily I got a good result out of it. I was very happy that it got out."

It was a good sign for Youkilis and the Red Sox due to the fact he's been hampered with a sore wrist for the last few weeks, but he showed no ill effects after he added a double to his performance last night.

"It felt a lot better as the days have progressed," he said. "I feel like I'm progressing well. I think the biggest thing is the wrist doesn't hurt as much now, and our training staff has done a great job helping me out and getting me ready. The best thing about it is, it's playoff time and adrenaline helps the most."

Here and there

The Red Sox have won seven straight postsesason games against the Angels, including three apiece in 1986 and 2004 . . . The victory last night snapped a three-game postseason losing streak for the Red Sox. They were swept in the 2005 ALDS by the Chicago White Sox . . . Manny Ramirez went 1-for-3. The Six' left fielder has hit safely in 20 of his last 21 postseason games at a .326 clip (28-for-86). Over that stretch he has 4 doubles, 5 homers, 16 RBI, 14 runs scored and 13 walks . . . The attendance of 37,597 was the highest ever for a playoff game at Fenway Park . . . The Angels were blanked in the postseason for only the second time. The other shutout came on Oct. 6, 1979, in Game 4 of the ALCS against Baltimore . . . Lackey dropped to 2-2 with a 3.65 earned-run average in nine career playoff appearances.

Congratulations

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim figuratively doffed their hats and bowed down to Josh Beckett, who thoroughly dominated them in a four-hit, 4-0 shutout last night at Fenway Park in the opener of the best-of-five American League Division Series.

"It's not too often you run into a pitcher who has everything working and is spotting everything where he wants it. You just have to tip your hat to him,'' said rookie outfielder Reggie Willits, who flied out and whiffed in his two at-bats.

First baseman Casey Kotchman was similarly impressed.

"He wasn't just throwing the ball over the plate, he was throwing quality strikes. He threw a lot of offspeed stuff for strikes, too, not just fastballs. He threw a variety of pitches for strikes,'' added first baseman Casey Kotchman, who was 0-for-3, unable to get the ball out of the infield.

"He made his pitches,'' chimed in Figgins, who was 1-for-4, robbed of a leadoff hit in the ninth on a diving catch by defensive replacement Jacoby Ellsbury. "He got a four-run lead early, and with his type of (aggressive, ace-like) mentality, and the way he pitches, we couldn't get any runs off him. You just have to tip your hat.''

So now the Angels are in a hole in the series, too. They have a day off to contemplate their predicament before the teams meet for Game 2 tomorrow at Fenway Park. And they certainly are not ready to run up any white flag.

"Today is over,'' said catcher Mike Napoli. "We just have to get after it on Friday.''

"Our mindset (for Game 2)?'' said Figgins, repeating a question. "To win. There can't be any other mindset but to win.''

Not so bad

John Lackey entered last night's game with a 1-4, 7.46 record at Fenway Park, and he allowed all four Boston runs in six innings last night. But he didn't think he pitched all that poorly.

"Honestly, I pitched better than the numbers are going to show,'' quietly insisted Lackey. "In the first inning, I had a pitch run over the plate (for Kevin Youkilis' homer). That happens. The only pitch I'd take back was the [home run hit by David Ortiz]. I had the base open (Youkilis was at second with one out) and I wasn't even trying to throw a strike. But I threw a strike (a hanging breaking ball, thigh high, over the middle of the plate).''.

But Lackey did take solace in the fact he was able to blank the Red Sox over his final three innings. And what was it he did differently?

"I'm not going to say,'' said Lackey. "I may be facing them again.''