``Believe me, this is not fun," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who called a team meeting before the game. ``This is horrible. But not only me and the staff believe in them, but they believe in each other as a team. We're going to keep playing. That's all we can do."
The outcome was still in doubt until Kevin Youkilis, batting in Ramírez's cleanup spot against Angels closer Frankie Rodriguez, lined to Vladi Guerrero in deep right with two on and two out to end the game. Youkilis slammed his helmet to the ground in frustration, as the Sox finished 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
One of those opportunities came in Pedroia's first big-league at-bat, when Angels shortstop Orlando Cabrera made a leaping catch of his bases-loaded liner and turned it into a double play. Pedroia singled on his next at-bat for his first big-league hit, but struck out with two on to end the sixth. Francona said Pedroia will start at second tonight.
``I got away with one against Manny," said Rodriguez, who challenged Ramírez with an 0-and-2 fastball that Ramírez drove to the wall in center, where it was hauled down by Chone Figgins.
Rodriguez held on for his 35th save as the Angels won their fifth straight to move a season-best eight games over .500.
The Sox, swept five games by the Yankees last weekend, had not lost more than five straight since a nine-game losing streak in 2001, when Kerrigan was manager and Ramirez famously walked into the manager's office and told him, ``I don't like you, I don't want to play for you, I'm out of here," according to another member of the team, then proceeded to disappear for a couple of days.
He resurfaced in Fort Myers, Fla., where he had gone, according to the team, to rehabilitate -- what else? -- a tender hamstring.
