Sun Oct 7 23:12:41 2007

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Schilling shines, Sox sweep Angels

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Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Curt Schilling threw seven shutout innings and the Red Sox got back-to-back homers from David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez in the fourth before blowing the game open in the eighth, in a 9-1 victory over the Angels, sweeping Los Angeles out of the American League Division Series.

The Red Sox exploded for seven runs in the eighth inning of Game 3, on their way to beating the Angels for a ninth straight time in the postseason. Boston swept them in the ALDS in 2004, on the way to its first World Series title since 1918.

The Red Sox will face either Cleveland or the New York Yankees in the AL Championship Series, which starts Friday at Fenway Park. The Indians lead the other ALDS, 2-0, and can complete the sweep tonight.

Coco Crisp's two-run single capped the eighth, an inning which the Angels used three relievers. Dustin Pedroia, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek each added run- scoring doubles, while Kevin Youkilis and J.D. Drew each had an RBI in the frame.

Schilling (1-0) allowed six hits, walked one and struck out four. The right- hander moved to 4-0 in five lifetime Division Series starts with an 0.93 ERA. At 9-2, Schilling has the best postseason winning percentage (.818) in major- league history for a pitcher with at least 10 decisions.

Jered Weaver (0-1) was lifted after holding the Red Sox to four hits and two runs in five-plus innings.

Howie Kendrick drove in LA's only run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth off Eric Gagne.

Angels outfielder Garret Anderson left the game after two innings due to conjunctivitis in his swollen right eye. Also, first baseman Casey Kotchman didn't play due to a medical condition.

Crisp struck out with runners on second and third to end a Boston threat in the second inning.

The Angels came up empty after loading the bases in the third. Juan Rivera singled to lead off, and with two outs Orlando Cabrera singled and Vladimir Guerrero walked. However, Reggie Willits fouled out to Varitek.

Ortiz led off the fourth by blasting an 0-1 pitch over the wall in right field. Ramirez, whose ninth inning three-run homer Friday gave Boston a 6-3 win, then fouled off a couple of full-count pitches before drilling a ball over the wall in center.

Ramirez, who has hit safely in 22 of his last 23 postseason games, has 22 career playoff homers, tying Bernie Williams of the Yankees for the all-time lead.

Schilling continued to shine, working around a Mike Napoli single in the fifth and retiring the side in order in the sixth before giving up a double to Maicer Izturis to begin the seventh. Izturis went to third on a grounder by Kendrick, but Rivera popped out and Napoli struck out.

Boston tacked on seven runs in the eighth by sending 11 men to the plate. Scot Shields walked Julio Lugo to start the inning and Pedroia followed with an RBI double to left field off Justin Speier. The relay throw to the plate by Cabrera was high and toward the first-base line as Lugo slid in safely. Youkilis then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field for a 4-0 lead.

It only got worse for Speier, who gave up a single to Ortiz and walked Ramirez before Lowell doubled down the left field line for another run.

Darren Oliver came in from the bullpen and got Drew to hit a ball to first base, but Kendry Morales' throw home was in the dirt and pinch-runner Jacoby Ellsbury scored.

Varitek moved the margin to 7-0 with an RBI double to left-center field and Crisp continued the rout with a two-run single to right-center.

Hideki Okajima threw the eighth inning and Gagne started the ninth. Izturis hit a ground-rule double to lead off the ninth, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Kendrick's sacrifice fly to right field. Pinch-hitter Nathan Haynes struck out and pinch-hitter Rob Quinlan flied out to right to end the game.

The Angels dropped their seventh straight playoff game. They were beaten in five by the White Sox in the 2005 ALCS.

Game Notes

Boston reached its third ALCS in the last five seasons...Ramirez has 10 homers in Division Series play, most all-time. His 27 Division Series RBI are second- most all-time, six behind Williams...The Angels held a 3-1 lead in their ALCS with Boston in 1986 before collapsing and losing in seven games.