BOSTON -- Mike Lowell's sore right hip kept the World Series MVP out of Boston's starting lineup for Game 4 of the AL playoffs against the Los Angeles Angels last night.

The Red Sox led the series 2-1 after the Angels won, 5-4, in 12 innings Sunday night. Lowell, who has a torn labrum in his right hip, walked in the 10th inning. Alex Cora pinch ran for him.

"He's hurting today," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "When he finally did get on base, we ran for him just because if there was a grounder in the hole and he can't get to second, that puts him in an unfair position."

Kevin Youkilis moved from first base to Lowell's regular spot at third base and Mark Kotsay was down to play first. J.D. Drew, who hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in Boston's 7-5 win in Game 2, returned in right field after not starting Sunday because of a bad back.

"Sometimes the best thing to do is try to be a little patient," Francona said. "If you can afford the patience, maybe your patience is rewarded. Now, again, we need to listen to what the doctors have to say."

Lowell's hip injury limited him to one at bat in the Red Sox last 11 regular-season games.

He went 0 for 4 as Boston won the opener 4-1, sat out the second game and went 0 for 4 in the third game.

"His ability to try to play through a bunch of pain is remarkable," Francona said, "but I think we all kind of saw it was difficult for him last night. "

The Angels made one lineup change from Game 2. Mike Napoli moved up from seventh to sixth after hitting two homers and scoring the winning run.

"Mike really turned it on the last month of the season," manager Mike Scioscia said.

Entering the American League Division Series, it was widely perceived one of the Angels' biggest advantages over the Red Sox was their bullpen.

That line of thought suggested Scioscia had the faith to turn the ball over to his Angels relievers, while Francona did not.

And while the bullpen ultimately failed Boston last night in its bid to sweep the visiting Angels, a five-man unit anchored by Justin Masterson and Jonathan Papelbon continued a stellar postseason performance that nearly had the Red Sox popping champagne.

After Josh Beckett lasted only five innings in his first start since returning from an oblique injury, four relievers -- Papelbon, Masterson, Manny Delcarmen, and Hideki Okajima -- combined to toss six scoreless innings as the game went into extra innings.

After the bullpen threw a lot of innings Monday night, the Red Sox were hoping starter Jon Lester could eat up innings last night. But the group believes it will be ready if called upon.

"We're pretty strong," said Delcarmen. "Once we get that call, we gotta be ready ... [Papelbon] might be down for [tonight], but we just gotta be ready."

Masterson agreed. "We're going to be fine. I think most guys threw just one [inning]," he said.

"Guys will do their thing, no matter how many day's rest they got."