Red Sox Advance to ALCS

Red Sox Advance to ALCS

Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon managed Tuesday night's game 4 of the ALDS as if it were game 7 of the World Series.  It didn't matter.  The Boston Red Sox did what they do best in game 4 of the ALDS at the Trop.  They grinded out a hard fought 3-1 win to advance to the American League Championship series where they will meet the winner of tomorrow's decisive fifth game between the Tigers and A's in Oakland.

Maddon used a record 9 pitchers in the game and had his ace David Price warming up in the bullpen if his team could force the game into extra innings.  It never happened.

Boston skipper John Farrell, who was criticized for some of his non-moves in a game 3 loss to the Rays, pushed all the right buttons this time as the Sox took down the Rays on their home turf.

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Xander Bogaerts tied the game for Boston in the top of the 7th when he scored on a wild pitch by Joel Peralta. Then, Shane Victorino's infield single snapped a 1-1 tie scoring Jacoby Ellbury for what turned out to be the game-winning run.  But it was the pitching that played a big role in this win.

Starter Jake Peavy went 5 2/3 innings allowing just 1 run before being replaced by Craig Breslow who pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball for the win.  Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara combined for 1 2/3 innings of perfect ball to close out the game and the series lifting Boston into the ALCS for the first time since 2008 when they lost to Tampa in 7 games.

The American League Championship Series is scheduled to begin Saturday at Fenway Park in Boston against either Oakland or Detroit.