BOSTON — From the brink of elimination and the depths of a yearlong slump, J.D. Drew helped the Boston Red Sox force a Game 7.
The struggling Red Sox right fielder hit a grand slam and drove in five runs and, behind yet another clutch start by Curt Schilling, the Red Sox battered the Cleveland Indians 12-2 Saturday to tie the AL championship series at three games apiece.
After seeing aces C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona fold, the Indians hope Jake Westbrook is the answer Sunday night. The Red Sox turn to Daisuke Matsuzaka, who has not pitched well so far in the postseason.
A third consecutive victory would put Boston in the World Series for the first time since 2004, when it rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the ALCS to beat the New York Yankees en route to its first title in 86 years.
After stumbling in his previous outing, Schilling came back to show why he is considered one of the best postseason pitchers in baseball history.
Schilling gave up Victor Martinez’s solo homer in the second inning and otherwise held the Indians scoreless until Ryan Garko tripled and scored on Jhonny Peralta’s sacrifice fly in the seventh. By that time, it was already 10-2.
Schilling got Kenny Lofton on a grounder and former teammate Trot Nixon on a fly ball to end the seventh, then left to a standing ovation. He took his hat off — twice — and waved up at the box where his wife and family sit.
He allowed two runs on six hits, striking out five and walking none to improve to 10-2 in his career in the postseason. Carmona failed to get anybody out in the third inning, allowing seven runs on six hits and four walks and striking out two.
