BOSTON - The last time Manny Ramirez faced Frankie Rodriguez, the Angels’ ace closer, it was Oct. 5. And the Red Sox left fielder clubbed a dramatic, titanic, tie-breaking three-run homer well over the Green Monster with two outs in the bottom of the ninth of Game Two of the American League Division Series, spurring Boston to a sweep of the series.

They met again yesterday. The circumstances weren’t nearly as pressure-packed. The Angels had a 7-5 lead and there were two outs and none on in the bottom of the ninth.

Rodriguez slipped two fastballs, each at 93 mph, over the outside corner for called strikes. He missed with a fastball and a slider. His 2-and-2 pitch was a 93 mph fastball that Ramirez hit well — but flied out to the triangle in center.

-STEVEN KRASNER