BOSTON - It is said that stealing third base is easier than stealing second.

Pitchers don’t tend to pay as much attention to the runner at second as they do at first, so the runner can get a bigger lead and jump, as a result.

Yesterday, Coco Crisp made it look real easy to swipe third.

In the fourth, after hitting a double, Crisp wasn’t held close by the Angels shortstop or second baseman and pitcher Joe Saunders only gave him a cursory look. So Crisp got a nice walking lead and took off for third, sliding in safely without drawing a throw because he had such a good jump.

In the sixth, Crisp made it 2 for 2, again getting a great jump and sliding into third without a throw.

-STEVEN KRASNER