Angels 1, Red Sox 0.

Final Score of Game One: Angels 5, Red Sox 0.

Isn't it amazing how one, seemingly effortless swing of the bat can erase 23 years of mind-boggling misery?

Well, that's exactly what Big-Game Hunter's 5th inning, 3-run home run in the opening game of the 2009 American League Division Series did for the Angels Thursday night. As the ball cut through the thick marine layer sheltering Angel Stadium on a cold yet electrifying October night, a jacked Hunter flipped his bat damn near to the moon in jovial celebration. He knew. That ball wasn't coming back. The poor ball cleared the center field fence by a good 20-feet and damn near put another hole in the center field rocks. As soon as the ball cleared the fence the sell-out crowd erupted - erupted!!! - in unison. I'm pretty certain in a span of five minutes we set the unofficial record for most awkward high-fives and Monster energy drink spills. I'll have to check on that. I'll get back to you later.

For once, if only for a couple seconds, everyone in attendance and every Angels fan watching at home forgot we owe Gary Matthews Jr. $9 million this year and another $10 million next year. Man, what a feeling.

Finally, we had something to cheer about. My god, after years of constant year-end disappointment, we had something to celebrate. For those of you who still think I'm talking about Matthews Jr.'s three-year Angels career, I'm not. Well, not entirely.

Add a timely RBI single by Angels-superstar-in-the-making Kendry Morales, accompanied by a Jason Bay throwing error and you have yourselves an impressive 5-0 victory and a 1-0 series lead. Finally, a lead in something other than the American League West. Finally.

As Torii's mammoth shot skied over the center field fence it was like Andre the Giant weight was lifted off everyone's shoulders; players, coaches, fans, vendors, Rex Hudler, everyone could finally take a sigh of relief. We could finally feel good about our World Series chances again, regardless of opponent. The Angels, at least for one night, made the Red Sox look vulnerable. We chipped away at their ace and consistently put pressure on their crummy defense. Over the course of the game the Red Sox committed silly errors and made uncharacteristic mental mistakes. This was the team that has routinely knocked us out of the playoffs every year? Couldn't be. Same jerseys, different team.

Sure it was only one game, but we HAD to win it. Sure it was a game we were supposed to win, but we HAD to win it. Sure a couple botched calls (most notably by the first-base umpire, C.B. [wait for it] ... Bucknor) went the Angels' way, but we still HAD to win the damn game.

On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being "If we don't win this game we're toast," this game hovered somewhere around the upper 600s. We had to find a way to win, we just had to. Had the Red Sox come into Anaheim and beaten us in another game one for the second consecutive year, we'd be cooked, 97 wins down the toilet. Every media outlet in the western hemisphere would be chalking up another humiliating Boston sweep and steadily preparing for another Yankees-Red Sox American League Championship Series.

Well, courtesy of John "I never do well against the Red Sox in the postseason, or really ever" Lackey's 4-hit gem, the Angels are now only two victories away from getting the King Kong sized monkey off their collective backs. Seriously, whatever you do, please don't downplay the importance of this victory. We needed this game more than anything. Had we lost this game, on this night, with this team, we may have never beaten Boston in the playoffs again. Like, ever.

With 45,000-plus rocking Angel Stadium Thursday night the Halos couldn't have asked for a better atmosphere to begin their 2009 World Series run. From the second the Angels took the field you could tell there was something different about this team, something special. Though most of the key players from the disappointing '07 and '08 teams still remain fundamental parts of this squad, this 'o9 version boasts off-the-chart chemistry and an unmistakable swagger. And if you don't think chemistry is important in baseball, particularly playoff baseball, you're crazy. Or a Yankees fan. Whichever one.

In the days leading to the postseason, when it was clear we were going to play the Red Sox in the ALDS for the third consecutive year, the media predictably and relentlessly beat the "The Red Sox have the Angels' number" angle into the ground. But rightfully so. History speaks for itself. You can't hide from the facts. There's no getting around it, we've sucked come October. Like Michael Lohan sucks being a father, but even worse.

Heading into the '09 ALDS, the Angels had only beaten the Sox once in their last ten playoff match-ups. Brutal. Wile E. Coyote numbers. But that's the great thing about sports, there's always next year. As Danny O'Shea preached, "And even if those Red Sox are better than you guys, even if they beat you 99 times out of 100, that still leaves ..." Yep, one time. (Note: O'Shea really said "Cowboys" in that speech, not Red Sox. But you get the point.)

Anyway, like I was saying, everything seemed to disappear when we took the field Thursday night. All the negativity, gone. All the pessimism, gone. David Ortiz's steroid supplement, gone. It was evident this particular Angels team wasn't paying any attention to all the "These guys can't beat the Red Sox come October" crap.

For once, we looked as if we were having a little bit of fun out there. Enjoying ourselves, even. You know, like baseball was a game meant to encourage fun. Whatever it was, we took the field as a collective bunch of kids primed to erase the past.

And with Torii's 3-run bomb and subsequent unforgettable, "Top 10 Most Pumped Home Run Celebrations Ever" helmet slam, we did. Once and for all. Well, until game two.

(Sidenote: Watching the game on TBS is horrible. Just godawful. The run-of-the-mill announcers carried this monotone pitch all game. It not only weakened the broadcast as a whole, it damn near lulled me to sleep. Good for a locally televised Pirates-Nationals late-August game, not good for a nationally televised Red Sox-Angels October playoff game. Come on guys, I know if you had your choice you'd be in New York or Los Angeles, but at least give the home fans some flavor. Some pizzaz. Something!!!)