Tim Wakefield befuddled New York with his knuckleball, taking a 5-0 lead into the seventh before he got wild. Three relievers from Boston's beleaguered bullpen completed the three-hitter.
After traveling from Boston to Oakland on Sunday night, then winning Game 5 on Monday night and flying back across the country, the Red Sox seemed
bleary eyed when they arrived at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.Ever since December, when Boston president Larry Lucchino called the Yankees the "Evil Empire," the Red Sox have played off imagery from "Star Wars">Star Wars," painting themselves as white knights trying to knock off the 26-time World Series champions.
Following their stunning comeback from a 2-0 deficit against the Athletics, Lucchino even predicted Tuesday that the Red Sox, who haven't won the Series since trading Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1920 - supposedly bringing on The Curse - would have The Force on their side.
Yankees fans kept reminding the Red Sox of their title drought, screaming "1918," but the reminder just seemed to fuel the Red Sox, who flashed their power and rapped out 13 hits, including four by Ramirez, who grew up close to Yankee Stadium.
Thursday night Derek Lowe will face New York's Andy Pettitte.
Derek Lowe
Lowe was so crucial to Boston's
Division Series victory over the A's, that it's fair to say the Sox wouldn't be in the ALCS without him. After the Sox lost the first two games of the series, Lowe put them in position to win Game 3 by pitching seven innings and not allowing an earned run. With the series on the verge of slipping away in decisive Game 5, Lowe came out of the bullpen and left the bases loaded to earn the save for Pedro Martinez. Lowe was 2-0 against the Yankees in four starts this season, but was hardly unhittable, posting a 5.55 ERA. In his career at Yankee Stadium, he's 6-7 with a 5.22 ERA.Andy Pettitte
Pettitte gets the nod in Game 2, looking for his 18th
win in his last 20 decisions dating back to June. Pettitte was very sharp in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Twins, striking out 10 batters while allowing just four hits in seven innings. It was the first 10-strikeout postseason performance by a Yankees pitcher since Roger Clemens whiffed 10 Diamondbacks in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. Pettitte's 11 career postseason wins now rank third all-time. John Smoltz and Tom Glavine each have 12 playoff wins, while Greg Maddux is tied with Pettitte.