John Lackey says boos "won't be forgotten"
John Lackey did not laugh it off, or dismiss it with a shrug. He was booed loudly when he took the mound and even more loudly when he left the game, and he sounded stunned and disappointed by the reception.
"That won't be forgotten," he said. "That's for sure."
Lackey returned to Angel Stadium on Tuesday, for the first time since signing with the Boston Red Sox last winter. The Angels have won the World Series but once in their history -- in 2002, with Lackey winning Game 7 as a rookie -- but the crowd was not forgiving, even if Lackey would have had to have left $22.5 million on the table to return to Anaheim.
Lackey was the winning pitcher, giving up two runs in 7-1/3 innings in Boston's 4-2 victory.
"Nobody wants to get booed like that," he said. "The scoreboard talks the loudest."
Lackey smiled at the suggestion he was especially fired up for this game.
"I don't need much motivation," he said. "That's never been my problem."
He saluted his former teammate, All-Star Jered Weaver, who gave up two runs in seven innings and took the loss.
"Weav is the man. He's really come into his own and had a tremendous year," Lackey said. "He's a great pitcher."
-- Bill Shaikin
