John Lackey struck out four and allowed just four hits in 7 and a third innings of work on Thursday.

AP photo / Lenny Ignelzi

ANAHEIM, Calif. –– For much of his career, the Red Sox have tormented John Lackey, hitting him hard most of the 17 times the pitcher has taken the mound against Boston.

Lately, Lackey has firmly claimed the upper hand. Lackey has a 3-7 record with a 5.25 ERA in 14 career regular-season starts against the Sox, but his last four outings have been excellent. Last season, he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning at Fenway, and then pitched well in the opening game of the 2008 ALDS. He pitched well in Fenway this September, but that was nothing compared to his start Thursday night: 7.1 shutout innings, with only five baserunners allowed.

He came off the field to a sustained standing ovation, one he said he cherished.

"That meant a lot, for sure ... I want to congratulate our fans a lot tonight. I mean, they sometimes get dogged on for not being loud enough. But they brought it tonight. And that ovation that I got coming off the mound meant a lot to me. We definitely appreciate them tonight," Lackey said.

Lackey said his arm felt good when he was warming up, and he knew his fastball would have plenty of movement.

Sox manager Terry Francona certainly agreed with that assessment.

"Lot of life on his fastball. Looked like he was moving both ways. Threw enough breaking balls [that] we had to respect that, and he was able to locate his fastball again with two different directions. He was good. He was real good," Francona said.

The Red Sox were able to get some good contact off Lackey, but when they did, the balls went right at Los Angeles fielders.

"We had some balls hit, just right at guys," said first baseman Kevin Youkilis. "We didn’t have the luck sometimes that balls fall in. When a guy’s pitching good too, it’s more evident. We’ve just got to keep going out there, having good at bats, and just trying to manufacture runs any way we can."

Lackey spent some time on the disabled list this season, and had a brief two-inning start to conclude his season. He was also pitching on extra rest, and all those factors combined to make him extra fresh coming into this postseason.

"Well, you know, John has been pitching great baseball ever since he came off the disabled list early. I think the little break from the end of the season refreshed him a little bit. He had great stuff tonight," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

If Lackey’s had one major problem in his recent postseason starts against the Sox, it’s been bad luck: in his 19.2 previous innings vs. Boston, his teammates scored only three runs total. Lackey went 0-2 with a no decision in those three starts.

Wednesday night, Torii Hunter gave Lackey that many runs in just one inning, swatting a three-run shot to center in the fifth inning. Hunter was perhaps more excited than Lackey about the pitcher’s good start.

"Runners in scoring position, he bears down. You should hear him in the dugout, he’s so pumped up, man. We both play football, so we have that adrenaline, that intensity. So I’m very excited about his start today. We went out there and set the tone early. Man, we were so pumped up from then on. So I’m excited about his start today," Hunter said.

dbarbari@projo.com