Red Sox advance to ALCS

The Boston Red Sox showed their resourcefulness in beating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 to advance to the American League Championship Series on Tuesday.

The Red Sox claimed the best-of-five AL Division Series 3-1 and will host either Oakland or Detroit in a best-of-seven set, scheduled to start on Saturday in Boston, for the right to represent the American League in the World Series.

The A's and Tigers are tied 2-2 in their series with the deciding Game 5 to be played in Oakland on Thursday.

Boston squandered solid scoring chances early, including a bases loaded, no-out opportunity in the second inning, but despite not hitting up to par overcame a 1-0 deficit late in the game against a revolving door of Rays pitchers.

"This is a team that is smart in between the lines," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "They relish the opportunities that they get. We're not done yet and we're moving on."

Farrell was also full of praise for the Rays.

"They play a complete game,. "They are very well managed, obviously. They posed a stern challenge for us, no question."

The Red Sox scored two runs in the seventh on a wild pitch by reliever Joel Peralta and an infield single by Shane Victorino before adding an insurance marker in the ninth after closer Fernando Rodney walked two, threw a wild pitch and hit a batter to set the stage for a sacrifice fly by Dustin Pedroia.

Tampa Bay, desperate to avoid elimination, used nine pitchers in tying the postseason record. They combined to yield just six hits, but also issued to issue eight walks.

Boston closer Koji Uehara bounced back from a rare failure on Monday, when he served up a game-ending home run to Jose Lobaton, by registering a four-out save, striking out Rays slugger Evan Longoria to end it.

The Red Sox revised their roster and changed managers after a dismal 69-93 last-place showing in 2012 and this season tied for the best record in the majors at 97-65.

"Just because we lost a lot of games last year, I believed that we'd be back," said Pedroia.

"The front office put together a team with a lot of guys that wanted to win and we're showing it. Guys grinded out at-bats, found a way to score a couple of runs and the pitching staff did a great job."

It was an 'all hands on deck' approach by Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon, who removed starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson in the second inning after he loaded the bases with none out.

Maddon said the mass procession of pitchers was not according to plan, though he did not pinpoint that as Tampa Bay's problem.

"We just needed to score more runs against their pitching. We didn't get where we wanted to get, but I cannot be more proud or pleased with our group," he said.

"It's a humbling time," said Tampa Bay outfielder David DeJesus, who got his first taste of postseason play after he was acquired in an August trade. "Sad that it's over."

(China Daily 10/10/2013 page22)