Sports News With MLB

The Boston Red Sox got a strong performance from their bullpen in the middle innings, stymied the New York Yankees’ potent bats and picked up a 4-3 victory on Tuesday night to advance to the American League Championship series against the Houston Astros. The Red Sox won the best-of-five series in four games.

The Red Sox scored three runs off CC Sabathia in the third inning in what might have been Sabathia’s last game with the Yankees, and added another in the fifth on a solo home run by Christian Vazquez.

Rick Porcello started and got the win for the Sox, giving up one run in five innings. A succession of relievers, including Game 1 starter Chris Sale, was untouchable, not allowing a base runner through three innings before closer Craig Kimbrel walked Aaron Judge leading off the ninth and gave up two runs before securing the final out on a tight play at first base.

The matchup with the Astros is exactly what should have happened in the AL. Boston led the league in victories in the regular season with 108; Houston, the defending World Series champ, was second with 103. The Red Sox led the AL in scoring, while the Astros allowed the fewest runs.

The Astros-Red Sox series will open at Fenway Park on Saturday night. In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers play at Miller Park on Friday night. The league championship series is best-of-seven.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman