ANAHEIM, California, Oct 1, 2008 (AFP) - Jon Lester hurled seven superb innings and Jason Bay hit a two-run home run to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 4-1 win over Anaheim in the opening game of their first round playoff series.

The victory was the 10 consecutive in the playoffs for Boston over Anaheim, including series sweeps in 2007, 2004 en route to World Series titles.

Jacoby Ellsbury reached base five times, drove in a run, scored a run and stole two bases for the Red Sox.

Lester got the start on Wednesday after Josh Beckett was sidelined with an injury.

The 24-year-old lefthander yielding an unearned run and six hits while striking out seven and issuing one walk.

'I got more relaxed once I got deeper into the game,' Lester said. 'I got more into flow and just tried not to do too much.'

Bay, who came over at the trade deadline in the deal that sent Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers, was making his playoff debut.

He struck out on breaking balls in his first two at-bats but came up with a runner on in the sixth and drove an 0-1 fastball from John Lackey (0-1) into the left field stands to give the Red Sox a 2-1 advantage.

'Anytime you come into another team's park and take the first game it is huge,' Lester said. 'Hopefully we can do it again in the next game.'

Lackey, who took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Boston on July 29, was charged with two runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five.

The Angels took a lead in the third when rookie shortstop Jed Lowrie went to field a grounder with two outs and could not come up with the ball cleanly, allowing Garret Anderson to move to second and Vladimir Guerrero to reach first safely.

Torii Hunter followed with a single to left to score Anaheim's lone run.

The Red Sox added a pair of runs in the ninth on RBI singles by Ellsbury and David Ortiz.

Jonathan Papelbon picked up the save with a scoreless ninth.