AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: E Hinske hit for D Ortiz. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, K YOUKILIS ON FIRST, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 9 LA ANGELS 0 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR BOSTON: E Hinske (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BOSTON 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 7 0 9 10 0 LA ANGELS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 (BOT 9) CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - HIDEKI OKAJIMA LAA - DUSTIN MOSELEY DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: M IZTURIS (.273, 2-FOR-3) H KENDRICK (.200, 0-FOR-3) J RIVERA (.333, 1-FOR-3)</div>
AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">BOSTON (9) VS LA ANGELS (0) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 .154 K Youkilis 1b 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 .250 D Ortiz dh 3 2 2 1 1 1 0 .714 a-E Hinske ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 M Ramirez lf 2 1 1 1 2 0 1 .375 J Ellsbury pr-lf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000 M Lowell 3b 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 .333 J Drew rf 4 1 0 1 0 1 2 .182 J Varitek c 4 1 1 1 0 2 2 .182 C Crisp cf 4 0 1 2 0 2 2 .200 J Lugo ss 3 1 1 0 1 0 1 .300 Totals 34 9 10 9 5 9 14 a-struck out looking for D Ortiz in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - M Lowell 2 (2, J Weaver, J Speier); D Pedroia (2, J Speier); J Varitek (1, D Oliver). HR - D Ortiz (2, 4th inning off J Weaver 0 on, 0 Out), M Ramirez (2, 4th inning off J Weaver 0 on, 0 Out). SF - K Youkilis. RBI - D Ortiz (3), M Ramirez (4), D Pedroia (1), K Youkilis (2), M Lowell (3), J Drew (3), J Varitek (1), C Crisp 2 (2). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Crisp 2. GIDP - K Youkilis, M Lowell, J Ellsbury. Team LOB - 4. BASERUNNING: SB - J Lugo (1, 2nd base off J Weaver/M Napoli). FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Lugo-D Pedroia-K Youkilis). LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Figgins cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .231 O Cabrera ss 4 0 2 0 0 0 2 .250 V Guerrero rf 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .200 G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .222 R Willits lf 2 0 0 0 1 1 3 .000 K Morales 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .111 M Izturis 3b 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 .273 H Kendrick 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .200 J Rivera dh 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .333 M Napoli c 3 0 1 0 0 2 2 .167 Totals 30 0 7 0 2 4 16 BATTING: 2B - M Izturis (1, C Schilling); C Figgins (2, H Okajima). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Napoli 1, K Morales 1, R Willits 2. GIDP - H Kendrick. Team LOB - 8. FIELDING: DP: 3 (H Kendrick-K Morales, O Cabrera-H Kendrick-K Morales, H Kendrick-K Morales-O Cabrera-H Kendrick). ---------------------------------------------------- BOSTON - 000 200 070 -- 9 LA ANGELS - 000 000 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era C Schilling 7 6 0 0 1 4 0 0.00 H Okajima 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Weaver 5 4 2 2 3 5 2 3.60 S Shields 2 0 1 1 1 3 0 2.25 J Speier 1/3 3 4 4 1 0 0 27.00 D Oliver 2/3 2 2 2 0 0 0 27.00 D Moseley 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 J Weaver pitched to 1 batter in the 6th. S Shields pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. Pitches-strikes: C Schilling 100-76; H Okajima 23-14; J Weaver 95-60; S Shields 30-21; J Speier 20-12; D Oliver 13-11; D Moseley 10-7. Ground balls-fly balls: C Schilling 9-8; H Okajima 0-3; J Weaver 5-5; S Shields 2-1; J Speier 0-1; D Oliver 2-1; D Moseley 2-0. Batters faced: C Schilling 27; H Okajima 5; J Weaver 21; S Shields 6; J Speier 5; D Oliver 5; D Moseley 3. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Ted Barrett. 2B--Tim Tschida. 3B--C.B. Bucknor. LF--Gary Darling. RF--Dan Iassogna. Weather: 82 degrees, sunny. Wind: 11 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - PITCHING CHANGE BOS: ERIC GAGNE (NO RECORD) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 9, LA ANGELS 0 DUE UP FOR LAANGELS: M IZTURIS (.273, 2-FOR-3)</div>
AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: E Gagne relieved H Okajima. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 9 LA ANGELS 0 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: M Izturis (.273, 2-FOR-3)</div>
AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS PLAYOFFS - SCORING UPDATE SACRIFICE FLY BY HOWIE KENDRICK SCORED MAICER IZTURIS. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 9 LA ANGELS 1 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: J RIVERA (.333, 1-FOR-3)</div>
AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: N Haynes hit for J Rivera. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 9 LA ANGELS 1 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: N Haynes (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: R Quinlan hit for M Napoli. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 9 LA ANGELS 1 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: R Quinlan (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BOSTON 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 7 0 9 10 0 LA ANGELS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 8 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: BOS - CURT SCHILLING, HIDEKI OKAJIMA (8TH), ERIC GAGNE (9TH) AND JASON VARITEK LAA - JERED WEAVER, SCOT SHIELDS (6TH), JUSTIN SPEIER (8TH), DARREN OLIVER (8TH), DUSTIN MOSELEY (9TH) AND MIKE NAPOLI HOME RUNS: BOS - DAVID ORTIZ (2) OFF JERED WEAVER IN THE 4TH, 0 ON MANNY RAMIREZ (2) OFF JERED WEAVER IN THE 4TH, 0 ON LAA - NONE</div>
AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BOSTON 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 7 0 9 10 0 LA ANGELS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 8 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: BOS - CURT SCHILLING, HIDEKI OKAJIMA (8TH), ERIC GAGNE (9TH) AND JASON VARITEK LAA - JERED WEAVER, SCOT SHIELDS (6TH), JUSTIN SPEIER (8TH), DARREN OLIVER (8TH), DUSTIN MOSELEY (9TH) AND MIKE NAPOLI WP - CURT SCHILLING (1-0) LP - JERED WEAVER (0-1) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: BOS - DAVID ORTIZ (2) OFF JERED WEAVER IN THE 4TH, 0 ON MANNY RAMIREZ (2) OFF JERED WEAVER IN THE 4TH, 0 ON LAA - NONE TIME: 3:29 ATT: 45,262 PROBABLES:</div>
AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">BOSTON (9) VS LA ANGELS (1) - FINAL BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 .154 K Youkilis 1b 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 .250 D Ortiz dh 3 2 2 1 1 1 0 .714 a-E Hinske ph-dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 M Ramirez lf 2 1 1 1 2 0 1 .375 J Ellsbury pr-lf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000 M Lowell 3b 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 .333 J Drew rf 4 1 0 1 0 1 2 .182 J Varitek c 4 1 1 1 0 2 2 .182 C Crisp cf 4 0 1 2 0 2 2 .200 J Lugo ss 3 1 1 0 1 0 1 .300 Totals 34 9 10 9 5 9 14 a-struck out looking for D Ortiz in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - M Lowell 2 (2, J Weaver, J Speier); D Pedroia (2, J Speier); J Varitek (1, D Oliver). HR - D Ortiz (2, 4th inning off J Weaver 0 on, 0 Out), M Ramirez (2, 4th inning off J Weaver 0 on, 0 Out). SF - K Youkilis. RBI - D Ortiz (3), M Ramirez (4), D Pedroia (1), K Youkilis (2), M Lowell (3), J Drew (3), J Varitek (1), C Crisp 2 (2). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Crisp 2. GIDP - K Youkilis, M Lowell, J Ellsbury. Team LOB - 4. BASERUNNING: SB - J Lugo (1, 2nd base off J Weaver/M Napoli). FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Lugo-D Pedroia-K Youkilis). LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Figgins cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .231 O Cabrera ss 4 0 2 0 0 0 2 .250 V Guerrero rf 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .200 G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .222 R Willits lf 2 0 0 0 1 1 3 .000 K Morales 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .111 M Izturis 3b 4 1 3 0 0 0 0 .333 H Kendrick 2b 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 .200 J Rivera dh 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .333 a-N Haynes ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 M Napoli c 3 0 1 0 0 2 2 .167 b-R Quinlan ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 33 1 8 1 2 5 16 a-struck out swinging for J Rivera in the 9th; b-flied out to right for M Napoli in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - M Izturis 2 (2, C Schilling, E Gagne); C Figgins (2, H Okajima). SF - H Kendrick. RBI - H Kendrick (1). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Napoli 1, K Morales 1, R Willits 2. GIDP - H Kendrick. Team LOB - 8. FIELDING: DP: 3 (H Kendrick-K Morales, O Cabrera-H Kendrick-K Morales, H Kendrick-K Morales-O Cabrera-H Kendrick). ---------------------------------------------------- BOSTON - 000 200 070 -- 9 LA ANGELS - 000 000 001 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era C Schilling (W, 1-0) 7 6 0 0 1 4 0 0.00 H Okajima 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 E Gagne 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 9.00 LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Weaver (L, 0-1) 5 4 2 2 3 5 2 3.60 S Shields 2 0 1 1 1 3 0 2.25 J Speier 1/3 3 4 4 1 0 0 27.00 D Oliver 2/3 2 2 2 0 0 0 27.00 D Moseley 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 J Weaver pitched to 1 batter in the 6th. S Shields pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. WP - E Gagne. Pitches-strikes: C Schilling 100-76; H Okajima 23-14; E Gagne 12-7; J Weaver 95-60; S Shields 30-21; J Speier 20-12; D Oliver 13-11; D Moseley 10-7. Ground balls-fly balls: C Schilling 9-8; H Okajima 0-3; E Gagne 0-2; J Weaver 5-5; S Shields 2-1; J Speier 0-1; D Oliver 2-1; D Moseley 2-0. Batters faced: C Schilling 27; H Okajima 5; E Gagne 4; J Weaver 21; S Shields 6; J Speier 5; D Oliver 5; D Moseley 3. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Ted Barrett. 2B--Tim Tschida. 3B--C.B. Bucknor. LF--Gary Darling. RF--Dan Iassogna. T--3:29. Att--45,262. Weather: 82 degrees, sunny. Wind: 11 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOSTON (9) AT LA ANGELS (1) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOSTON 4TH: D Ortiz homered to right. M Ramirez homered to center. M Lowell popped out to first. J Drew flied out to left. J Varitek flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, LA ANGELS 0. BOSTON 8TH: J Lugo walked. J Speier relieved S Shields. D Pedroia doubled to left, J Lugo scored, D Pedroia to third advancing on throw. K Youkilis hit sacrifice fly to center, D Pedroia scored. D Ortiz singled to left. M Ramirez walked, D Ortiz to second. J Ellsbury ran for M Ramirez. M Lowell doubled to deep left, D Ortiz scored, J Ellsbury to third. D Oliver relieved J Speier. J Drew grounded into fielder's choice to first, J Ellsbury scored, M Lowell to third. J Varitek doubled to deep left center, M Lowell scored, J Drew to third. C Crisp singled to center, J Drew and J Varitek scored. J Lugo popped out to first. D Pedroia grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, C Crisp out at second. (7 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 9, LA ANGELS 0. LA ANGELS 9TH: E Gagne relieved H Okajima. M Izturis hit a ground rule double to right. M Izturis to third on wild pitch by E Gagne. H Kendrick hit sacrifice fly to right, M Izturis scored. N Haynes hit for J Rivera. N Haynes struck out swinging. R Quinlan hit for M Napoli. R Quinlan flied out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 9, LA ANGELS 1.</div>
AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BOSTON 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 7 0 9 10 0 LA ANGELS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 8 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: BOS - CURT SCHILLING, HIDEKI OKAJIMA (8TH), ERIC GAGNE (9TH) AND JASON VARITEK LAA - JERED WEAVER, SCOT SHIELDS (6TH), JUSTIN SPEIER (8TH), DARREN OLIVER (8TH), DUSTIN MOSELEY (9TH) AND MIKE NAPOLI WP - CURT SCHILLING (1-0) LP - JERED WEAVER (0-1) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: BOS - DAVID ORTIZ (2) OFF JERED WEAVER IN THE 4TH, 0 ON MANNY RAMIREZ (2) OFF JERED WEAVER IN THE 4TH, 0 ON LAA - NONE TIME: 3:29 ATT: 45,262</div>
AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOSTON (9) AT LA ANGELS (1) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Boston Starting Lineups -- D Pedroia 2B, K Youkilis 1B, D Ortiz DH, M Ramirez LF, M Lowell 3B, J Drew RF, J Varitek C, C Crisp CF, J Lugo SS, C Schilling RHP. La Angels Starting Lineups -- C Figgins CF, O Cabrera SS, V Guerrero RF, G Anderson LF, K Morales 1B, M Izturis 3B, H Kendrick 2B, J Rivera DH, M Napoli C, J Weaver RHP. Umpires -- Brian Runge (HP), Ted Barrett (1B), Tim Tschida (2B), C.B. Bucknor (3B), Gary Darling (LF), Dan Iassogna (RF). Gametime Weather: 82 degrees, Sunny, wind in from right at 11 mph. BOSTON 1ST: D Pedroia grounded out to third. K Youkilis struck out swinging. D Ortiz struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, LA ANGELS 0. LA ANGELS 1ST: C Figgins flied out to center. O Cabrera singled to center. V Guerrero lined out to third. G Anderson lined out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, LA ANGELS 0. BOSTON 2ND: M Ramirez walked. M Lowell doubled to left, M Ramirez to third. J Drew grounded out to pitcher. J Varitek struck out swinging. C Crisp struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, LA ANGELS 0. LA ANGELS 2ND: K Morales lined out to right. M Izturis singled to left. H Kendrick grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, M Izturis out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, LA ANGELS 0. BOSTON 3RD: R Willits in left field. J Lugo flied out to center. D Pedroia struck out swinging. K Youkilis flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, LA ANGELS 0. LA ANGELS 3RD: J Rivera singled to center. M Napoli struck out looking. C Figgins grounded into fielder's choice to first, J Rivera out at second. O Cabrera singled to left, C Figgins to third. V Guerrero walked, O Cabrera to second. R Willits fouled out to catcher. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, LA ANGELS 0. BOSTON 4TH: D Ortiz homered to right. M Ramirez homered to center. M Lowell popped out to first. J Drew flied out to left. J Varitek flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, LA ANGELS 0. LA ANGELS 4TH: K Morales grounded out to shortstop. M Izturis grounded out to second. H Kendrick grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, LA ANGELS 0. BOSTON 5TH: C Crisp grounded out to second. J Lugo singled to center. J Lugo stole second. D Pedroia walked. K Youkilis grounded into double play, second to first, D Pedroia out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, LA ANGELS 0. LA ANGELS 5TH: J Rivera struck out looking. M Napoli singled to left. C Figgins flied out to left. O Cabrera flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, LA ANGELS 0. BOSTON 6TH: D Ortiz walked. S Shields relieved J Weaver. M Ramirez flied out to center. M Lowell grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, D Ortiz out at second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, LA ANGELS 0. LA ANGELS 6TH: V Guerrero grounded out to shortstop. R Willits struck out looking. K Morales grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, LA ANGELS 0. BOSTON 7TH: J Drew struck out looking. J Varitek struck out looking. C Crisp struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, LA ANGELS 0. LA ANGELS 7TH: M Izturis doubled to left center. H Kendrick grounded out to second, M Izturis to third. J Rivera popped out to first. M Napoli struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, LA ANGELS 0. BOSTON 8TH: J Lugo walked. J Speier relieved S Shields. D Pedroia doubled to left, J Lugo scored, D Pedroia to third advancing on throw. K Youkilis hit sacrifice fly to center, D Pedroia scored. D Ortiz singled to left. M Ramirez walked, D Ortiz to second. J Ellsbury ran for M Ramirez. M Lowell doubled to deep left, D Ortiz scored, J Ellsbury to third. D Oliver relieved J Speier. J Drew grounded into fielder's choice to first, J Ellsbury scored, M Lowell to third. J Varitek doubled to deep left center, M Lowell scored, J Drew to third. C Crisp singled to center, J Drew and J Varitek scored. J Lugo popped out to first. D Pedroia grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, C Crisp out at second. (7 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 9, LA ANGELS 0. LA ANGELS 8TH: J Ellsbury in left field. H Okajima relieved C Schilling. C Figgins doubled to deep right. O Cabrera lined out to left. V Guerrero fouled out to first. R Willits walked. K Morales flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 9, LA ANGELS 0. BOSTON 9TH: D Moseley relieved D Oliver. K Youkilis singled to center. E Hinske hit for D Ortiz. E Hinske struck out looking. J Ellsbury grounded into double play, second to first to shortstop to second, K Youkilis out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 9, LA ANGELS 0. LA ANGELS 9TH: E Gagne relieved H Okajima. M Izturis hit a ground rule double to right. M Izturis to third on wild pitch by E Gagne. H Kendrick hit sacrifice fly to right, M Izturis scored. N Haynes hit for J Rivera. N Haynes struck out swinging. R Quinlan hit for M Napoli. R Quinlan flied out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 9, LA ANGELS 1.</div>
Ortiz, Ramirez and Schilling send Red Sox to the ALCS <h3>BOSTON 9, LA ANGELS 1</h3>ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- A pair of sluggers and aveteran ace were all the Boston Red Sox needed to move on in the2007 playoffs. David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez hit back-to-back homers and CurtSchilling tossed seven scoreless innings as the Red Sox clinchedthe American League Division Series with a 9-1 victory over theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Sunday. Boston advances to the American League Championship Series forthe first time since 2004 after completing a three-game sweep. Ortiz, who hit a two-run blast in Boston's Game One victory,deposited an 0-1 curveball down and in from Anaheim starterJered Weaver over the right field wall to open up a 1-0 leadleading off the fourth inning. The All-Star slugger was in the middle of the offensive surgethroughout the series, going 5-for-7 with six walks and twohomers. Ramirez followed Ortiz and battled Weaver through an eight-pitchat-bat before scorching a 3-2 pitch over the wall instraight-away center field. The blast was Ramirez's 22nd career postseason homer, tying himwith Bernie Williams for first place on the all-time list. Itwas his second home run of the series after Friday's three-runwalk-off blast to win Game Two. While Ortiz and Ramirez have provided the offensive heroics, thestory of the series has Boston's superior pitching. Schilling (1-0) entered Sunday's game with the highest winningpercentage in postseason history among pitchers who had made atleast 10 starts. His ERA of 2.06 was the third best in historyamong pitchers with 100 innings or more of postseasonexperience. The 40-year-old righthander lived up to his playoff resumeagainst the Angels, allowing only one runner as far as thirdbase while yielding six hits and issuing one walk. Schillingstruck out four while taking advantage of Anaheim'sfree-swinging ways, pounding the strike zone and pitching tocontact. He threw 76 of his 100 pitches for strikes en route to notchinghis second career ALDS win over the Angels, who he also beat inGame One here in 2004. Schilling worked an 0-2 count eighttimes and started 19 of the 27 batters he faced off withstrikes. Schilling joins Game One starter Josh Beckett, who tossed acomplete-game shutout in a 4-0 victory, and a lights-out bullpenthat turned in 4 1/3 hitless innings in Game Two, to form adominant pitching effort that led to Anaheim scoring a total offour runs in the series. Weaver (0-1) lasted five-plus innings, allowing two runs andfour hits while walking three and striking out five. Thesecond-year righthander was pulled after walking Ortiz to leadoff the sixth inning. Boston's offense exploded for seven runs in the eighth inningoff three Angels' relievers to break the game open. The Red Soxsent 11 men to the plate in the frame, getting RBI from sixdifferent hitters, including Coco Crisp, who drove in two runswith a single to cap the rally. Boston has now won nine straight postseason games againstAnaheim dating back to Game Five of the 1986 ALCS. The Red Soxare 11-3 in the playoffs since Game Four of the 2004 ALCS. They await the winner of the Cleveland Indians-New York Yankeesseries in the ALCS, which is set to open Friday at Fenway Park.
Ortiz, Ramirez and Schilling send Red Sox to the ALCS <h3>BOSTON 9, LA ANGELS 1</h3>ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- A pair of sluggers and aveteran ace were all the Boston Red Sox needed to move on in the2007 playoffs. David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez hit back-to-back homers and CurtSchilling tossed seven scoreless innings as the Red Sox clinchedthe American League Division Series with a 9-1 victory over theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Sunday. Boston advances to the American League Championship Series forthe first time since 2004 after completing a three-game sweep. "It feels good to celebrate with the team and to take that nextstep to getting to the World Series," Ramirez said. Ortiz, who hit a two-run blast in Boston's Game One victory,deposited an 0-1 curveball down and in from Anaheim starterJered Weaver over the right field wall to open up a 1-0 leadleading off the fourth inning. "We just came up big in big situations today and gave Schillingthe early lead," Ortiz said. "I got a good pitch to handle andhit it hard." The All-Star slugger was in the middle of the offensive surgethroughout the series, going 5-for-7 with six walks and twohomers. "David and Manny had back-to-back beautiful swings, and it gaveus the cushion and Schilling made it hold up," Red Sox managerTerry Francona said. Ramirez followed Ortiz and battled Weaver through an eight-pitchat-bat before scorching a 3-2 pitch over the wall instraight-away center field. "I'm patient and have my confidence back," Ramirez said. "Ijust took my stroke to a second level in this series. I justkeep my confidence up and just go out and try my best." The blast was Ramirez's 22nd career postseason homer, tying himwith Bernie Williams for first place on the all-time list. Itwas his second home run of the series after Friday's three-runwalk-off blast to win Game Two. "Year after year, he (Ramirez) continues to swing a hot bat inthe postseason and always seems to come up with that big hitwhen we need it," Francona said. While Ortiz and Ramirez have provided the offensive heroics, thestory of the series has Boston's superior pitching. "Pitching is everything and it's the key to playoffs ispitching," Ramirez said. "We got one of the best bullpens inbaseball to follow up the starters." Schilling (1-0) entered Sunday's game with the highest winningpercentage in postseason history among pitchers who had made atleast 10 starts. His ERA of 2.06 was the third best in historyamong pitchers with 100 innings or more of postseasonexperience. "Schilling is the man, he's always great in the playoffs,"Ramirez said. The 40-year-old righthander lived up to his playoff resumeagainst the Angels, allowing only one runner as far as thirdbase while yielding six hits and issuing one walk. Schillingstruck out four while taking advantage of Anaheim'sfree-swinging ways, pounding the strike zone and pitching tocontact. "Jason (Varitek) was flawless today," Schilling said. "That wasas well a game called as I've ever had. I made a lot ofmistakes early in the game but I got lucky and they (Angels)just fouled off my mistakes." He threw 76 of his 100 pitches for strikes en route to notchinghis second career ALDS win over the Angels, who he also beat inGame One here in 2004. Schilling worked an 0-2 count eighttimes and started 19 of the 27 batters he faced off withstrikes. "It's a great feeling but we still have work to do to reach ourgoal, which is to get to the World Series and win it," Schillingsaid. Schilling joins Game One starter Josh Beckett, who tossed acomplete-game shutout in a 4-0 victory, and a lights-out bullpenthat turned in 4 1/3 hitless innings in Game Two, to form adominant pitching effort that led to Anaheim scoring a total offour runs in the series. "We're trying to win the games," Schilling said. "Whatever Ican do in the mix to help the team makes you feel good tocontribute and I did that today." Weaver (0-1) lasted five-plus innings, allowing two runs andfour hits while walking three and striking out five. Thesecond-year righthander was pulled after walking Ortiz to leadoff the sixth inning. "It's one of those games where you score one run and it's a 9-1game, and you sit back and analyze," Angels manager MikeScioscia said. "I thought Jered Weaver did a terrific jobpitching in the second and third situations and got himself outof jams." Boston's offense exploded for seven runs in the eighth inningoff three Angels' relievers to break the game open. The Red Soxsent 11 men to the plate in the frame, getting RBI from sixdifferent hitters, including Coco Crisp, who drove in two runswith a single to cap the rally. "That lineup over there is tough for any ball club to face,"Weaver said. "There isn't an easy out in that lineup. Thatteam is a team that can put runs on the board in a hurry and yousaw that later on in the game." Boston has now won nine straight postseason games againstAnaheim dating back to Game Five of the 1986 ALCS. The Red Soxare 11-3 in the playoffs since Game Four of the 2004 ALCS. "They (Angels) have a terrific team and you never want to playthose guys because of their style, but we just had to go out andplay our type of game this series," Red Sox pitcher JoshBeckett said. They await the winner of the Cleveland Indians-New York Yankeesseries in the ALCS, which is set to open Friday at Fenway Park.
