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October 20, 2007
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
