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"New York, New York" bellowed through the victorious clubhouse tonight as
the Boston Red Sox beat the Yankees, 4-3—advancing to the
American League Championship Series for the first time since 2013. To the strains of Sinatra, Boston popped the champagne corks and celebrated a cardiac win that went down to the wire—
with a video review of the final out. Leading 4-1 going into the bottom of the 9th, closer
Craig Kimbrel nearly stumbled the lead away—allowing two runs while demonstrating virtually no command. But, in the end, it really didn't matter, because this was
Yankee Elimination Day and Boston will now play the defending World Series Champion Houston Astros starting Saturday at Fenway Park. Boston jumped out early with a 4-0 lead behind a stellar five-inning outing by starter
Rick Porcello. The former
Cy Young-winner gave up just one earned run on four hits. The Sox put up three runs in the third on a sacrifice fly by
J.D. Martinez and consecutive two-out hits by
Ian Kinsler and
Eduardo Nunez (two guys who did not play yesterday, but were inserted by manager
Alex Cora tonight).
Christian Vazquez, who has not caught Porcello all year, homered.
Steve Pearce was also huge—with two hits and several key defensive plays (including the final put-out of the game).
On to Houston! (after two games at Fenway).
