On J.D. Drew
''He is the definition of even keel. He doesn't get too high, too low.''

On why the team is so mentally tough
''It's a combination of the personalities. This is a mix of players, from Jason's incredibly preparation to Pap's horrible dancing . . . I also think we're channeling the fan base.''

Posted by Art Martone  at 11:58 PM | Permalink

POSTGAME: Quick reaction -- Terry Francona

On Curt Schilling
''He started out the first few innings fastball-split, then as the game progressed was throwing his changeup and cutter. Really pitched like the guy that we need. Didn't have his fastball tonight, but located it really well.''

On Game Seven
''We're excited. We'd be crazy not to be excited. To have a Game Seven at Fenway . . . I'm sure they're excited and so are we.''

On J.D. Drew's grand slam
''To say we're thrilled would be an understatement. They have a chance to wiggle out of that, and not only do we score but we get four.''

On his approach for Game Seven
''It doesn't change a whole lot. Obviously, everybody's on hand pitching-wise. But other than that we'll do the same things we do every day. Kick Pedroia's [butt] in cribbage and try to go out and win a baseball game.''

Posted by Art Martone  at 11:53 PM | Permalink

POSTGAME: Quick reaction -- Eric Wedge

On Fausto Carmona
''Some of the same of what we saw before, I think. They hit a couple of balls on the ground early in the right spot; nothing much you could do about it. He almost got out of the first inning but J.D. got him, and it went downhill fom there.''

On losing the last two games by a combined score of 19-3
''It's still just two games, You see a lot in a seven-game series. It's going to come down to Game Seven between the two teams that won more games than any teams in baseball this season, and that's the way it should be.''

On the umpiring
''Obviously we had some issues early on, but the umpires have a tough job. Against teams that are very patient, when you're putting the baseball on the plate, you feel like you need to get those calls.''

On whether or not his team can put the last two games behind it
''Well, you said it. It has to stop and it has to stop tonight. They have to go to bed tonight with clear heads and good thoughts, and come back tomorrow ready to win. It's another step for us but it's not completely unchartered.''

Posted by Art Martone  at 11:45 PM | Permalink

FINAL: Red Sox 12, Indians 2

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- All the Red Sox needed was to get back to Boston. Back to Fenway Park. Back in front of their fans.

Saturday night they showed why they love calling this place home.

Facing elimination from the American League Championship Series at the hands of the Cleveland Indians, the Red Sox responded in a monumental way en route to a 12-2 victory in front of 37,163 fans. The club is now one win away from advancing to its second World Series appearance in four seasons with Game Seven of this series tonight at Fenway Park.

After winning Game One of this series, Boston then dropped the next three before forcing the series back here with a victory in Game Five at Jacobs Field. Everything the Red Sox needed to happen Saturday night did. Every player the Red Sox needed to contribute did.

The oft-booed J.D. Drew provided his biggest hit as a Red Sox, a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning. Then, in the third inning, he provided a RBI-single and another single in the eighth inning. Red Sox starter Curt Schilling was spotted a nine-run lead after three innings and cruised to victory, working seven strong innings and allowed just two runs on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts. The veteran right-hander threw only 90 pitches (60 strikes).

The Red Sox’ top two hitters – Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis – needed to get on base in order for the club to have success offensively. The Indians did a pretty good job keeping those two hitters off base earlier in the series, but both have come alive the last two games.

The pair combined for five hits and four runs to lead the way.

In fact, Pedroia sat in the Red Sox’ dugout prior to last night’s game and exuded confidence. Youkilis said after Game Five in Cleveland that the entire team was finding its groove. Those guys got it going again Saturday night, and the rest of the lineup followed.

Boston pounded Cleveland starter Fausto Carmona for seven runs on six hits in two (plus three batters in the third) innings before the Sox took advantage of the Indians bullpen.

After Boston scored four in the first thanks to Drew’s grand slam, the Indians scored their first run off Schilling on a solo homer by Victor Martinez in the second inning. The Red Sox then pushed across six runs in the third and never looked back. Schilling surrendered only one other run in the seventh before his night was over.

Boston reliever Javier Lopez retired the side in order in the top of the eighth inning, before the Sox pushed across two more in the bottom half for a 12-2 advantage. The let reliever Eric Gagne finish things up in the ninth.

Now it comes down to one game. One team will advance to face the Colorado Rockies in the World Series, beginning Wednesday in either Boston or Cleveland.

The Red Sox go with Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Japanese import who has struggled in his first major-league postseason. If he has problems early, it’s a safe bet Tim Wakefield and Jon Lester -- and perhaps even Josh Beckett -- could work out of the bullpen. For the Indians, Jake Westbrook takes the hill after beating Dice-K and the Sox in Game Three of this series.

“We’re confident,” said Schilling. “We’re going to lean on Daisuke and I believe he’s going to come out and do something special (today).”

It’s up for grabs. Fortunately for the Red Sox, they’re playing at Boston in front of their fans. As Red Sox manager Terry Francona said prior to the game, there’s nothing like Fenway Park.

Posted by Art Martone  at 11:33 PM | Permalink

INSIDE THE GAME: The middle innings

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- The Indians turned into the Clowns in self-destructing during the Sox' six-run explosion in the third that boosted Boston's lead to 10-1.Twice the Indians showed how NOT to execute a rundown. And in each case it was Youkilis as the Sox' man in the middle, using his head in one instance when Cleveland messed up.

After Youkilis laced an RBI single off the wall, he was caught three-quarters of the way to second base as the throw from left fielder Kenny Lofton went to the bag to Asdrubal Cabrera. Youkilis was a dead duck as Cabrera ran him back to first while keeping his eye on Pedroia, running at third base.As Youkilis neared first base, Cabrera made a soft dart-like throw to first baseman Ryan Garko, but Youkilis ducked his head and the ball clanged off his helmet and rolled away, allowing Pedroia to score on Cabrera's error.

Then, with Youkilis still at first, Ortiz hit a bouncer to Garko who stepped on the bag for the second out of the inning. Again Youkilis was hung up between first and second. But Garko bounced his throw to Peralta at the bag. The ball bounced into center field and Youkilis claimed second base on Garko's error.

This is not to say the Indians can't throw the leather.

Sizemore ran a long way and snagged Jacoby Ellsbury's drive to right-center with a dive in the fourth; Cabrera robbed Pedroia of a hit with a snappy backhand short-hop pickup in the fifth, and third baseman Casey Blake made a barehand pickup and strong throw to nail Youkilis on a swinging bunt, also in the fifth.

Posted by Art Martone  at 11:27 PM | Permalink

Update/Photo: Schilling goes 7 strong

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Veteran Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling pitched for seven innings in Game 6 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Indians. He's shown here pitching in the first.

Schilling struggled in his Game Two starts against the Indians, surrendering two homers and five earned runs in only 4 2/3 innings.

Read more about Schilling's supporters before the game ...

Posted by Pam Cotter  at 11:01 PM | Permalink

Photo: They just keep scoring

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Dustin Pedroia (15) greets Jacoby Ellsbury, who scores ffrom first on a hit by Julio Lugo in the 3rd inning, to put the score at 8-1 Red Sox over the Indians. Two more runs were added in the inning, making it 10-1 at the break.

Posted by Pam Cotter  at 10:03 PM | Permalink

INSIDE THE GAME: The early innings

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Amazing what a 3-and-1 cookie can do to jump-start a player, a team and its spirited fan base.

Saturday night, it was a 94-mph fastball down the middle, thigh high, from Cleveland starter Fausto Carmona that turned outcast J.D. Drew into the hero of the moment as he rounded the bases after crushing a two-out grand slam in the first inning that gave the Red Sox a quick 4-0 lead.

Carmona didn’t want to walk in a run. He was one pitch from escaping a bases-loaded, none-out jam, having fanned the dangerous Manny Ramirez and retired Mike Lowell on a fly ball to shallow right.

So because Carmona didn’t want to gift-wrap one run for the Red Sox, he actually gave them four. It was the fifth pitch in the at-bat, and the speed of the pitch wasn’t about to fool Drew, who is selective to a fault, agonizing fans in his generally passive approach at the plate. The first two pitches were at 95 mph, the next two at 96.

Drew had fouled off one pitch and had taken the others for balls, so he was hitting ahead in the count, which is a hitter’s game plan. Adding to that was the fact the bases were loaded, meaning Carmona had to throw a strike, which narrowed down Drew’s focus at the plate to a certain pitch in a certain spot.

If he didn’t get it, he could always take a bases-loaded walk and force home a run. Or even if it was a strike, if it wasn’t in his zone, he could lay off and wait for a 3-and-2 pitch that might be more to his liking.

But this pitch was right in Drew’s wheelhouse, a get-me-over fastball, even if it did have some zip to it. As far as Drew was concerned, it was such a perfect pitch to hit it might just as well have been on a tee. And Drew didn’t miss it.

Nor did Drew miss another 94-mph fastball in the third, drilling an RBI single up the middle on a 1-and-0 pitch after Carmona had walked the first two batters on nine pitches, making it a 5-1 game.

* * * *
At this stage of his career, Curt Schilling has to get the corners from the umpires and he has to have a little luck, too, because while he’s not going to walk many, he won’t strike out many, either. So some hard-hit balls have to become outs.

Or foul balls.

Grady Sizemore, the Indians’ leadoff hitter, lofted a high drive down the right-field line on an 85-mph cutter that went over the foul pole in the first inning. The umpires called it foul, though replays were inconclusive.

Schilling also took advantage of struggling Cleveland DH Travis Hafner (.158, 3 for 19 coming in). Schilling served up two hittable pitches to Hafner with two on and two outs in the third and Boston on top, 4-1.

But Hafner, who had 24 homers and knocked in 100 runs this season, is so messed up at the plate that he fouled off a down-the-middle straight 91-mph fastball and bounced out softly to first, ending the inning, trying to pull a hanging 85-mph splitter on the outer half of the plate.

* * * *
The key for Carmona to be successful was for the right-hander to get ground balls.
That’s what he said on Friday, and the theme was echoed by manager Eric Wedge and pitching coach Carl Willis.

On paper, two batters into the game, it looked as if Carmona were following his plan beautifully. Dustin Pedroia hit the ball on the ground. So did Kevin Youkilis.

But sinkerball pitchers have to have some luck, too. And Carmona didn’t have any.

Pedroia reached out, chopped a weak bouncer over the mound and beat it out for an infield single. Youkilis hit a roller deep in the shortstop hole and Pedroia was safe at second on the Indians’ forceout attempt. Youkilis was credited with an infield single.

Those two weak ground balls set the stage for Drew’s grand slam and an early 4-0 advantage.

In the second inning, Youkilis was credited with another infield single, this time when his weak ground ball toward the shortstop hole hit the lip of the infield where the dirt meets the grass, throwing off the timing of shortstop Jhonny Peralta as he charged the ball, leaving him with no play.

This one, though, didn’t hurt. Carmona got David Ortiz to hit a sinker on the ground and the Indians turned it into an inning-ending double play. Carmona, however, did not retire a batter in the third and was lifted.

* * * *
When Ortiz came to the plate with runners at first and second and none out, the Indians didn’t employ an over-shift on the Sox’ designated hitter. Peralta was on the shortstop side of the second-base bag, though he was shaded closer to it than normal. Ortiz walked.

In the second, Ortiz came to the plate with runners at first and third and one out. This time Peralta played him on the second-base side of the bag. It was perfect positioning. Ortiz ripped a ground ball right at him, and Peralta turned the inning-ending double play.

* * * *
Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez was not happy with plate umpire Dana DeMuth.
After Carmona’s torturous 36-pitch first inning was over, he turned and had some words with DeMuth, whom he presumably thought was squeezing his young pitcher. Martinez had to be led away by a couple of Indians.

Martinez still had to be riled up as he came to the plate, leading off the second. And he directed that anger toward an 89-mph fastball from Schilling, lofting a homer over the right-field foul pole. He took his time rounding the bases, even though the homer only cut Cleveland’s deficit to 4-1.

* * * *
Naturally, the Red Sox were hoping for a long and solid outing from Schilling.
But the pitcher had to be on a short leash because if Boston didn’t win last night, its season was over. Patience was not going to be the order of the night when it came to making pitching changes.

So no doubt to that end, an hour before the scheduled first pitch, left-hander Jon Lester was in the right-field corner, pitching to bullpen catcher Mani Martinez on the flat ground. Martinez was in a catcher’s crouch and Lester was loosening up.

Lester, a starter in his budding career, is not used to coming out of the bullpen. On this playoff roster, Lester is the long man, the pitcher stretched out to give the Sox multiple innings out of the bullpen. So that relatively brief session likely was to get him loose enough to be able to get ready at a moment’s notice should Schilling falter early.

Posted by Art Martone  at 9:51 PM | Permalink

INDIANS VS. RED SOX: Youth is being served

By JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Jacoby Ellsbury emerged from the tunnel underneath the dugout at Fenway Park early Saturday evening oozing with confident.

The Red Sox rookie was penciled into the lineup to play center field and bat eighth in the order, replacing the struggling Coco Crisp as Boston prepared to face the Cleveland Indians in Game Six of the ALCS.

Not exactly the time of the season to give a 24-year-old his first postseason start, not when your club trails in the series three games to two and one loss means elimination.

But it was indicative of the confidence the Red Sox have in their young players . . . and symbolic of how much things have changed in recent years.

The ability to incorporate young players into this roster in Boston is a little more challenging than it is some places because of the stakes, according to vice-president of player personnel Ben Cherington.

Kevin Youkilis was the very first of the farmhands to arrive, in 2004. He's still around and has played an important role for this club. So, this season, have Pedroia, Brandon Moss, Jonathan Papelbon, Manny Delcarmen, Ellsbury, Jon Lester and, before they were traded to Texas, Kason Gabbard and David Murphy.

''All of them have been great,'' said Pedroia. ''A lot of us played together in the minor leagues and we’ve all gone the same route. It’s huge when you have home-grown guys coming up. If you look at a lot of teams, like the Indians and Twins, they rely on their home-grown guys. It’s huge for the Red Sox to start doing that and with our payroll it makes us that much better.''

Obviously, talent and hard work are the main factors why young players reach this level. But staying and being accepted by the players, coaches and the manager, also factor into rookies being able to contribute.

''Our veteran players get it,'' said Cherington. ''They understand how to win and understand that they were young once, too and needed a hand with certain things. We have guys who go out of their way to do that.''

Cherington feels another aspect of the organization’s successful formula lies with the club’s manager and the entire coaching staff in Boston.

Manager Terry Francona, pitching coach John Farrell, bullpen coach Gary Tuck, first-base coach Luis Alicea, hitting coach Dave Magadan, third-base coach De Marlo Hale and bench coach Brad Mills all have one thing in common.

''Every single one spent time in the minor leagues as either a coach or manager,'' said Cherington. ''So they really understand what development is all about, and it doesn’t necessarily stop when a guy gets to the big leagues. We’re fortunate to have veteran players and a coaching staff that gets it and helps along the way.''

The players the Red Sox have drafted and brought up through the organization are not your typical run-of-the-mill developmental players, according to Moss, who was a September call-up but is not on the playoff roster.

''All these guys have special talent,'' he said. ''To come up in a system like this, and make it to the major leagues with a team like this, it takes a little more than just your everyday player. Because when you come up and play for a team like this, you’re expected to perform right away.''

That’s not exactly how every organization treats its young guys, but fortunately for the Red Sox, all the players they draft very quickly get accustomed to how the things work in Boston.

''A lot of guys have that rookie cushion a little bit,'' said Moss. ''Not here. It says a lot about these guys.''

All the aforementioned players have been successful when called up, so the future appears bright for the Red Sox.

''It definitely shows now that they are going to give guys opportunities,'' said Pedroia. ''It’s another way to make the organization that much better.''

And Saturday night, it was Ellsbury’s chance.

He served as a sparkplug during the season and posted a .353 average with three homers and 18 RBI. Every time he’s played, he’s contributed in a big way. So with Crisp struggling at the plate, Francona felt he needed to make a change.

''Tito is trying to put the best lineup together that he can,'' said Cherington. ''The lineup he thinks gives the team the best chance to win the game. I understand that’s very generic answer, but it’s true in this particular case.''

Prior to the game Ellsbury appeared to be in complete control of his emotions, knowing this is a tremendous opportunity for him.

''I'm feeling good," he said during batting practice. "I've been preparing for this since the start of the postseason. I'm just happy to get the start. I feel ready. . . On the days we don't play we take batting practice just like everybody else, so I'm ready.''

Nervous?

''I’m anxious,'' he said. ''There’s a nervousness but that’s good. It’s keeps you on your toes.''

Even though Francona has said during the postseason that he was not going to deviate from his lineup, from the players who helped the team reach the postseason, Ellsbury proved during the regular season that he can handle any situation. He has the ability to take control of the game in every aspect.

''I don’t like talking about tools,” said Pedroia. ''I see him as a baseball player. He does a lot of things well. He obviously runs well and plays great defense, and being able to run the way he does, he’s an offensive threat all the time. If he’s not swinging the bat well, he’s still a threat. With the ability he has, he can take over a game in an instant with his speed.''

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 9:24 PM | Permalink

IN-GAME NOTE: Sox set GIDP record

The double play hit into by David Ortiz in the second inning was the 11th that the Sox had grounded into in this series, setting an LCS record for most GIDPs by one team.

Posted by Art Martone  at 9:19 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

IN-GAME TIDBIT: Sox player, exec back decision to replace Crisp with Ellsbury

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Members of the Red Sox backed manager Terry Francona's decision to replace center fielder Coco Crisp with Jacoby Ellsbury.

''It takes everybody to win,'' said rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia. ''(Jacoby) is going to get a chance to come out and help us, like everybody has. We support everything.

''Everybody’s been through a tough bump in the road this year, and every year. This is baseball and the game is hard. This isn’t easy, especially at this time of the year. You’re tired mentally, physically and now you have to face a guy who throws 97 MPH sinkers. It’s not easy, man, and I don’t think people realize, especially in our situation now (down three games to two). We have no room for error. If we don’t come out good tonight, we go home.”

Red Sox vice president of player personnel Ben Cherington said the manager has to put the best lineup on the field that he feels can win. Tonight, with the club one game away from elimination, Crisp is out and Ellsbury is in.

''Obviously, Coco is a very important part of the team and without him we don’t get to the playoffs,'' said Cherington. ''So I’m sure it was a tough decision for Tito, but overall he’s trying to do what’s best for the team. If he feels like Jacoby being in there is the right thing, and it’s an opportunity for Jacoby to go out there and be the player he is; not more than that. He needs to let the game come to him a little bit and have some fun.''

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 9:14 PM | Permalink

IN-GAME NOTE: Historic grand slam by Drew (updated)

AP Photo
J.D. Drew, right, gets congratulations from David Ortiz, left rear, and Kevin Youkilis (20) after hitting a grand slam off Cleveland Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona in the first inning in Game 6 of the American League Champions Series.

J.D. Drew’s grand slam home run last night was the third postseason slam in Red Sox history. The others were hit by Johnny Damon (second inning of Game Seven against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS) and Troy O’Leary (seventh inning of Game Five against the Indians in the 1999 ALDS).
* * * *
It was the first postseason grand slam ever hit by the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
* * * *
The home run was the fourth postseason HR of Drew's career, and his second in a League Championship Series game.

Posted by Art Martone  at 8:56 PM | Permalink | Comments 2

PREGAME: Indians notes

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON – Cleveland manager Eric Wedge has handled his duties with the media quite smoothly this October. In fact, one reporter asked Saturday night how he keeps his cool under such pressure situations. Wedge simply said the confidence he owns in his team is what keeps him calm.

''I really believe in being even keel. I know I keep saying that word, but I get as excited as the next guy,'' said Wedge. ''What you see from me is somebody that really believes in his players and has a great deal of confidence in his players, and I love the way we play the game, and I trust that. I don't question that. I trust that, I count on that, and because of that I come to the ballpark and I watch them play.

''I get involved when I need to, otherwise I stay the heck out of the way.”

Game Six heroes
The Indians have secured some of their biggest victories in Game Sixes over the years. Cleveland has twice won a Game Six on the way to the World Series. In both 1997 and `95, the Indians clinched a spot in the Series by winning the American League pennant in the sixth game.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, had won five straight elimination games entering last night. The five would include Game 6 of the ALCS in 2003 against the Yankees, three more knockout games in `04 against the Yankees and Thursday night’s Game 5 in Cleveland.

Getting used to it
There aren’t many more odd ballparks in baseball than Fenway Park but the Indians say they have no problems adjusting to the major’s oldest park.

''Every ballpark has its nuances,'' said Wedge, ''and obviously there's a lot of tradition here, but our kids have really done a good job of getting beyond that. You need to learn each and every ballpark for the angles and exactly what it's all about and how to play the game. But you really have to work hard to separate from that.''

Advantage, Sox
The Indians and Red Sox finished tied with 96 wins but the Red Sox won the season series to earn home field last night.

''Everybody wants to play at home,'' said Wedge. ''I mean, nobody is going to say, yeah, we'd rather play on the road. Everybody wants to play at home. But the ability to play on the road like you do at home, I think we can do that and have proven that we can do that. I think that's something that's important.”

Help us, Travis
The Indians were hoping for a little sign of life from designated hitter Travis Hafner. The team’s third hitter is on quite a downward spiral. In Game 4, Hafner went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts, three versus Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball. In the 7-1 loss in Game 5, Hafner was 0-for-4 again with two strikeouts. Hafner is batting .158 (3-for-19) in the ALCS and .200 (7-for-35) in the postseason.

Posted by Kevin  at 8:25 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Trot Nixon back in lineup

By KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON – If Red Sox fans thought inserting Jacoby Ellsbury into the lineup was an easy call, imagine how Cleveland felt in regards to Trot Nixon.

Coco Crisp’s futile play at the plate has been matched across the diamond by the Indians’ Franklin Gutierrez. He cracked a three-run homer off John Lester to help put Game Two out of reach but has just one other hit in the series to sit at .133 (2-for-15). In the postseason, he’s just 4-of-25 for a .160 average.

But it wasn’t just those lowly numbers that made Eric Wedge write Nixon’s name into the lineup for Game Six last night. No one knows how to play right field at Fenway Park under the bright playoff lights more than the 33-year old Nixon.

That familiarity has already helped Nixon deliver one of this series’ key plays when he lined an 11th inning single off left-hander Javier Lopez to knock in the go-ahead run in Game Two.

It was a critical hit but one that Nixon shook off as just business. That it came against the team that cast him aside after spending eight seasons in Boston in order to sign J.D. Drew was irrelevant.

''You know, for just some reason I just felt a calmness out there in the batter's box,'' he said. ''I think if you can keep your emotions in check in those situations like that, you've probably got a little bit better chance and I was fortunate. I didn't hit it hard but I hit it where I needed to.''

Wedge said Nixon’s experience has also benefited the Indians off the field. On a team filled with youngsters, Nixon qualifies as a grizzled veteran. He quickly accepted the role, going back to spring training when he wouldn’t shy away from speaking his mind in front of his new teammates.

''I knew a great deal about Trot prior to him coming over to us,'' said Wedge. ''How he had grown into the leadership personality that he has along with his presence. We felt that immediately.''

Nixon wouldn’t only speak with the younger players. He’d also mentor the team’s stars that’ve been around the majors for a few seasons.

''He’s boisterous. He’s not afraid to say what he thinks,'' said Wedge. ''The experience that he has, he’s done everything in his career and been through so much. That’s really helped us. The same with some of the other guys we have here, veteran guys, but I think Trot has probably been more out front than anybody.''

Nixon spent the better part of the final two months of the season backing up Gutierrez. He finished the regular season hitting .251 with three home runs and 31 RBI. But he certainly hasn’t lost his skills. He enjoyed a career day on May 6 against the Orioles when he went 5-for-5 with a double and 4 RBI.

More importantly, October baseball is not new for Nixon. He played in 38 post-season games with the Red Sox and enjoyed plenty of highlights, including five home runs and 22 RBI. One of his biggest moments came in the Sox’ World Series clinching victory over St. Louis in 2004 when he stroked three doubles and knocked in two runs.

Now Nixon hopes to be a thorn in the Red Sox side. Along the way, he’ll provide the leadership that every winning team needs.

''Leadership is not about people liking you. Leadership is about doing what needs to be done to help a certain individual or your team be the best they can be or learn something to where they can be better tomorrow,'' said Wedge. ''I think Trot understands that.''

Posted by Kevin  at 6:57 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Ellsbury ready to go

BY JOE McDONALD -- Jacoby Ellsbury emerged from the tunnel beneath the dugout, looking confident and in complete control of his emotions.

''I'm feeling good,'' he said. ''I've been preparing for this since the start of the postseason. I'm just happy to get the start. . . I feel ready. On the days we don't play we take batting practice just like everybody else, so I'm ready.''

Tonight will be his first postseason start for the Red Sox and he just completed batting practice, saying he's ready to go.

''I’m anxious,'' he said. ''There’s a nervousness but that’s good. It’s keeps you on your toes.''

Ellsbury getting the nod in Game Six of the ALCS proves the organization has confidence in its young players.

''It's nice that they have confidence in me to get the job done," said Ellsbury. ''I've promised myself to do the same.''

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 6:41 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Home-field advantage

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- As in virtually every park, the home team has an advantage because of the hometown fans behind them.

But it might even be a more pronounced advantage at Fenway Park, said Boston manager Terry Francona.

''You get to the seventh inning and the opposing pitcher throws ball one and you can feel the place shake,'' said Francona. ''I remember that as a visitor. There's not too many places in baseball where you really can feel like that. Yankee Stadium can somewhat feel that way, but nothing like Fenway.''

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 5:58 PM | Permalink

PREGAME: Pregame notes

WHAT’S AT STAKE? Cleveland can clinch its sixth World Series berth with a victory tonight in Game Six . . . Cleveland last won an American League pennant in 1997, defeating the Baltimore Orioles in six games . . . The Red Sox are looking to extend this series to a decisive seventh game, which would be played at 8:23 p.m. Sunday at Fenway Park . . . Boston is in search of its 11th World Series bid.

LIVING ONE MORE DAY: The Red Sox captured Game Five to prolong this series for another game, the 14th time in LCS history a team has fallen behind 3-1, but won Game Five to extend the series . . . Of the 13 previous occasions a team has rallied to 3-2 from a 3-1 deficit, six times a team has won Game Six to force a Game Seven . . . Seven times, a team holding a 3-1 advantage before losing in Game Five has won the series in Game Six, with 3 of the 7 Game Six victories coming on the road:
SERIES -- After 4 games -- Game 5 Result -- Game 6 Result
1990 NLCS -- CIN 3-1 -- at PIT 3, CIN2 -- at CIN 2, PIT 1
1992 ALCS -- TOR 3-1 -- at OAK 6, TOR 2 -- at TOR 9, OAK 2
1997 ALCS -- CLE 3-1 -- BAL 4, at CLE 2 -- CLE 1, at BAL 0 (11 inn.)
1998 NLCS -- SD 3-1 -- ATL 7, at SD 6 -- SD 5, at ATL 0
1999 NLCS -- ATL 3-1 -- at NY 4, ATL 3 (15 inn.) -- at ATL 10, NY 9 (11 inn.)
2000 ALCS -- NYY 3-1 -- at SEA 6, NYY 2 -- at NYY 9, SEA 7
2005 NLCS -- HOU 3-1 -- STL 5, at HOU 4 -- HOU 5, at STL 1

THE CHOSEN FIVE: Five times a team rallying from 3-1 to 3-3 has taken the series in 7 games, most recently the 2004 Boston Red Sox . . . Boston is the only club ever to rally from two 3-1 deficits (1986 and 2004) to win an LCS.
Series/After 4 games -- Game 5 Result -- Game 6 Result -- Game 7 Result
1985 ALCS -- TOR 3-1 -- at KC 2, TOR 0 -- KC 5, at TOR 3 -- KC 6, at TOR 2
1986 ALCS -- CAL 3-1 -- BOS 7, at CAL 6 (11) -- at BOS 10, CAL 4 -- at BOS 8, CAL 1
1996 NLCS -- STL 3-1 -- ATL 14, at STL 0 -- at ATL 3, STL 1 -- at ATL 15, STL 0
2003 NLCS -- CHI 3-1 -- at FLA 4, CHI 0 -- FLA 8, at CHI 3 -- FLA 9, at CHI 6
2004 ALCS -- NYY 3-1 -- at BOS 5, NYY 4 (14) -- BOS 4, at NYY 2 -- BOS 10, at NYY 3

THE ONE EXCEPTION: Of those six teams to record wins in Games Five and Six when trailing 3-1, only once has a team not advanced to the World Series . . . The 1992 Atlanta Braves built a 3-1 lead before losing Game Five at
Pittsburgh and Game Six at home . . . In Game Seven, one of postseason’s most memorable moments, SID BREAM scored the winning run on FRANCISCO CABRERA’s ninth-inning single to send the Braves to their second straight World Series:
Series/After 4 games -- Game 5 Result -- Game 6 Result -- Game 7 Result
1992 NLCS -- ATL 3-1 -- at PIT 7, ATL 1 -- PIT 13, at ATL 4 -- ATL in 7 (3-2)

POSTSEASON OVERALL: Factoring in 18 World Series matchups, on 31 occasions a team has started 3-1 but lost Game Five in a best-of-seven postseason series . . . Of the 31, 17 times that club has won the series in six games and four times those teams have won in seven games . . . Ten times teams rallying from 3-1 deficits have won the series.

FAMILIAR ROAD FOR TRIBE: The Indians have twice won Game Six of an ALCS on the road to clinch the A.L. pennant . . . Cleveland won at Seattle, 4-0, in Game Six of the 1995 ALCS, while winning Game Six at Baltimore, 1-0,
in 11 innings in 1997 . . . This series has mirrored Cleveland’s 1997 run to the A.L. pennant, following the same format through five games as its series against Baltimore in the 1997 ALCS…In that series, Baltimore won Game One at home, 3-0, before Cleveland rolled off three straight victories . . . In Game Five, with a chance to close out the series in Cleveland at Jacobs Field, the Orioles stymied the Indians, 4-2…Cleveland would win the series in Game Six on a solo home run by TONY FERNANDEZ in the 11th inning for the only run of the game.

DEFYING ELIMINATION: Boston has won five straight LCS elimination games and 6 of 7 LCS elimination games overall since staving off elimination in Game Six of the 2003 ALCS at New York . . . The Red Sox are 22-11 all-time in postseason elimination games, going 9-2 in their last 11 elimination chances (losing Game Seven of the 2003 ALCS, Game Three of the 2005 ALDS) . . . Since 1999, Boston is 7-2 in elimination games here at Fenway Park, losing the 2005 ALDS to Chicago and the 1999 ALCS against New York . . . The Red Sox have never been eliminated in three previous ALCS Game Six appearances, winning Game Six in 1986, 2003 and 2004, to force Game Seven.

OCTOBER 20 BASEBALL: On just two previous occasions has the ALCS been played as late as October 20 . . . In 2004, Boston won Game Seven at New York to complete its 0-3 comeback for the A.L. pennant on this date, with a 10-3 victory, the team’s fourth straight win…That 2004 Boston victory marked the first (and only) time in postseason history a team rallied from an 0-3 deficit to win a series…Also on this date in 2001, Seattle recorded its lone ALCS victory with a 14-3 win at Yankee Stadium, though New York would win the series in five games.

THE SCHILL OF AN EARLY FALL: CURT SCHILLING makes his 18th career postseason start tonight . . . In 17 postseason beginnings, Schilling is 9-2, 2.23 (30 er/121 ip) with four complete games . . . His teams are 12-5 in
postseason games in which he has started . . . Including Game Three of the 2007 ALDS, Schilling has made 8 career postseason starts coming in Games Three through Seven of a series, posting a 5-0, 0.99 (7 er/63.1 ip) era in that span . . . Tonight marks the fifth time Schilling has started an elimination game for his team . . . In four previous elimination starts, Schilling is 3-0, 1.11 era (4 er/32.1 ip),as his club has won each start:
Series -- Game -- Date -- Result -- Pitching Line -- Series Result
1993 WS -- Gm. 5 -- 10/21 -- 2-0 Win -- W -- CG, 9 ip, 5 h, 0 r, 3 bb, 6 so, 148 pitches -- PHI loses in 6
2001 NLDS -- Gm. 5 -- 10/14 -- 2-1 Win -- W -- CG, 9 ip, 6 h, 1 r-er, 1 bb, 9 so, 1 hr, 121 pitches -- AZ wins in 5
2001 WS -- Gm. 7 -- 11/4 -- 3-2 Win -- ND -- 7.1 ip, 6 h, 2 r-er, 0 bb, 9 so, 1 hr, 103 pitches -- AZ wins in 7
2004 ALCS -- Gm. 6 -- 10/19 -- 4-2 Win -- W -- 7 ip, 4 h, 1 r-er, 0 bb, 4 so, 1 hr, 124 pitches -- BOS wins in 7

TWIN KILLING: Boston’s current pitching rotation features two of the top four eras in postseason among active pitchers with at least 50.0 career innings pitched in the postseason . . . JOSH BECKETT (1.78) ranks 2nd to MARIANO
RIVERA (0.77), while CURT SCHILLING (2.23) is 4th behind MIKE STANTON (2.10).

MINUS BECKETT: Both Red Sox wins in this series have come with JOSH BECKETT on the hill, posting a 1.93 era (3 er/14 ip) with just one walk and 18 strikeouts in 2 starts . . . The other 3 Boston starters are a combined 0-2, 9.00 (14
er/14 ip) in the 3 Red Sox losses of this series.

HISTORIC RED SOCK: Three years ago, in Game Six of the 2004 ALCS featuring Boston and New York, Schilling kept the Red Sox dream of the World Series alive for another day, defeating the New York Yankees and JON LIEBER, 4-2, at Yankee Stadium on October 19 . . . Schilling allowed just 4 hits and one earned run on 124 pitches while nursing a severely injured right ankle . . . During the start, Schilling’s ankle injury bled through his sock . . . The historic red sock, along with the spikes worn by Schilling during that 2004 postseason, is currently on display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.

TRIBE PRIDE: Though the ALCS has returned to Boston, it doesn’t mean that Jacobs Field will be empty tonight . . . The Indians are hosting a ''Tribe Pride Party'' for Game Six in Cleveland, providing free admission for the lower bowl seating to watch the game on the Indians’ big scoreboard . . . Should a Game Seven be necessary, the Indians will host another “Tribe Pride Party” on Sunday.

NO SAVING GRACE: Cleveland reliever JOE BOROWSKI has the lone save of this series, recording it in Game Three, the lowest save total between 2 teams in 5 ALCS games since 2005, when Anaheim and Chicago combined on just one save (FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ, Gm. 1) . . . That series featured complete games in each of the 4 Chicago wins . . . The last series with as few as one save for both teams combined without multiple complete games came in the 1985 ALCS, when DAN QUISENBERRY saved Game Six, the only save of the series for the two teams.

K-LEVELAND: Cleveland has struck out 10-or-more times at the plate in three consecutive games, one off the postseason record of four set by Seattle in 1997 . . . The Indians have struck out 34 times during that three-game
stretch . . . On the flip side, Boston is just one off the post-season record with three consecutive games of 10-or-more strikeouts, with four being done only once by Baltimore in 1997 (also against the Indians) . . . The three consecutive 10+ strikeout games by the Red Sox hurlers sets an ALCS record, and equals an LCS record, last accomplished by the Arizona Diamondbacks (2001-07).