ALCS Game 6: Red Sox vs Indians

Going into Game 5, the Red Sox had to win 3 straight games against the Indians and from the outset I believed that the toughest game to win would be Game 6 with Curt Schilling going up against Fausto Carmona.

Despite Schilling's reputation as a big game pitcher, he struggled in his first start of the series so there were some doubts. Luckily, fear motivates Schilling and he sure pitched like it. It also helped that JD Drew came up with his biggest hit in a Red Sox uniform in the first inning. After failing to score in two chances with the bases loaded and no outs, JD Drew came to the plate for the Red Sox and it appeared that the team might squander another chance for a big inning. Luckily, JD Drew put an end to those chances when he absolutely crushed an offering from Fausto Carmona into the centerfield seats for a grand slam.

The hit gave the Red Sox a 4-0 lead. Schilling then worked in and out of trouble in the next couple of innings but only allowed 1 run. It appeared that the Red Sox would need more than 4 runs to win it, so it was a huge relif when they broke it open in the bottom of the 3rd with a 6 run inning. JD Drew collected his 5th RBI in that inning. Ellsbury, Lugo, and Youkilis also collected RBIs in the frame. The Red Sox ended the 3rd inning with a 10-1 advantage and the game ended 12-2 in favor of the Red Sox.

Schilling ended up pitching 7 innings and allowing 2 runs. Javier Lopez and Eric Gagne pitched perfect innings in relief.

The win on Saturday night ties the series at 3 games apiece and sets up a winner-takes-all Game 7 from Boston on Sunday night. Daisuke Matsuzaka will square off against Jake Westbrook in the pivotal game.