ANAHEIM, Calif. -- J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell returned to the Red Sox lineup for the first time together since Aug. 12, but neither did much at the plate.

The two veterans combined to go 0 for 8 with two strikeouts. Throughout the final few days leading up to the playoffs, both Drew and Lowell said they felt the biggest adjustment to missing so much time with injuries would come facing live pitching. That certainly looked to be the case last night.

Drew was unavailable for comment, but Lowell said he made it through the game in good shape. He did pull up a bit after one groundout to first base but he said that did not happen because of any pain.

``I'm OK," Lowell said. "When guys swing and they foul the ball off, you're making that first step, and that's what kind of was grabbing at me before, so I passed that test. There were a lot of foul balls. I know I'm limited, but I would've tackled Vlady before he got to third. I'm glad I didn't have to.''

Lowell was talking about the role he played in one of the game's biggest defensive plays. With Vladimir Guerrero on first and one out, Torii Hunter dumped a bloop single over Kevin Youkilis into short right field. Youkilis quickly bounded off the turf with the ball and threw sharply to third to easily get the slow-footed Guerrero.

``It was kind of weird. I didn't think he was going to third," said Lowell. ``Youk's throw was kind of off-line, but it worked out perfectly. Jed [Lowrie] didn't cut it and I was standing right there and he was out by a mile. Without that play, the scope of the game changes a little bit."

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Guerrero had a tough read on the play because it appeared the ball could bounce around a bit in the outfield.

``You never know what that inning is to become, but Vlad is aggressive and it was a tough read. I thought he thought the ball was a little farther out than it was," he said.

Lowell and Drew didn't start in the same game in any of Boston's final 42 regular-season contests. Lowell was nursing a strained oblique muscle and is now battling through a torn labrum in his hip. Drew strained his lower back on Aug. 17 and has struggled with nagging pain ever since.

Checking their work

The first- and third-base umpires were busy men all night long.

Hitters from both teams spent an inordinate number of swings checking their offerings and looking for a ruling from the umps. Ed Rapuano, the third-base umpire, made two safe calls on check swings when David Ortiz batted in the third inning. Neither was well-received by the Angels, and the second drew a long stare from manager Mike Scioscia.

In the bottom of the third, Angel star Mark Teixeira checked his swing and first base ump Bill Miller ruled it strike three. The call drew loud boos from the sellout crowd of 44,996.

Around the bases

Rod Carew, a seven-time batting champion and Hall of Famer, threw out the first pitch to a standing ovation. ... The national anthem and a rousing rendition of God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch were sung by young girls who perform at Walt Disney Land. ... Attendance was 44,996 and 95 percent seemed to be wearing red clothing.

kmcnamar@projo.com