MLB: Red Sox force decider” width=”218″ />
Drew: Grand slam
A first inning grand slam from JD Drew eased the pressure on Boston as the Red Sox crushed Cleveland to force a seventh-game decider in the American League playoffs.
Needing victory to extend the series, Boston ran out 12-2 winners against the Indians with veteran Curt Schilling yielding just two runs in seven solid innings.
The Red Sox loaded the bases in the first inning with no one out on two infield hits and a walk to David Ortiz.
Fausto Carmona struck out Manny Ramirez and got Mike Lowell on a pop fly, but the inevitable happened when Drew connected on a 3-1 pitch, slamming it into the centrefield bleachers.
Carmona replaced
Victor Martinez led off the second inning with a solo home run for Cleveland but a six-run third for Boston effectively sealed the win.
Carmona was replaced by Rafael Perez but the result was the same – Jacoby Ellsbury singled in a run before Julio Lugo’s double scored Drew and Ellsbury, while Kevin Youkilis allowed Lugo to score on a lined pitch to left.
Boston, who are seeking their second World Series in four years, completed the scoring with two runs in the eighth off Joe Borowski.
“It’s going to come down to Game 7 between the two teams that won more games than anybody in regular season,” said Cleveland manager Eric Wedge.
“Two teams that have beat up on each other a little bit over the past week, and that’s the way it should be. It’s something everybody should look forward to.”
Source: www.skysports.com
