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October 7, 2007
By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer
ANAHEIM, Calif. _ Bring on . . . whomever!
The Boston Red Sox swept the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this afternoon and will face either the New York Yankees or the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS, beginning Friday at Fenway Park.
Red Sox ace Curt Schilling delivered exactly what he said he would – victory – as Boston triumphed in a 9-1 win at Angel Stadium. Red Sox sluggers Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz provided the offense with back-to-back solo home runs in the fourth inning.
With his blast, Ramirez ties former New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams for the most all-time postseason homers with 22. Ortiz followed with his shot, the ninth time the pair have hit back-to-back roundtrippers and the second in the postseason.
Schilling worked seven scoreless innings, allowing just six hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
Red Sox rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia provided an RBI-double in the top of eighth, and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Youkilis for a 4-0 Boston lead. Mike Lowell contributed an RBI-double, scoring Ortiz for a 5-0 advantage.
The scoring didn’t stop there in the inning.
Jacoby Ellsbury, serving as a pinch-runner for Ramirez, who walked earlier in the inning, scored from third on a fielder’s choice by J.D. Drew. Jason Varitek provided an RBI-double before Coco Crisp contributed a two-run single for a 9-0 lead.
The Angels scored one run the bottom of the ninth inning off reliever Eric Gagne.
The Yankees and the Indians are playing Game Three of their series right now in the Bronx. Cleveland leads the best-of-five series, 2-0.
Posted by Joe McDonald 
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