Red Sox vs. Tigers final score: Boston leads ALCS after gritty 4-3 win

Oct 17, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Brayan Pena (55) cannot tag Boston Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks (16) because the umpire gets in between him and the runner during the ninth inning in game five of the American League Championship Series baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

After stealing Game 1 and home field advantage from the Boston Red Sox, the Detroit Tigers were sitting pretty. A heartbreaking loss in Game 2 put a damper on their efforts to leave Boston with a 2-0 series lead, but even tied at 1-1 with Justin Verlander awaiting at your home ballpark, you had to be feeling pretty good about yourself.

What the Tigers didn’t expect was for the Red Sox to come in and win two of three in Detroit, now putting Boston a lone victory away from advancing to the World Series.

The Red Sox got things started early against Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez who found himself in a mass amount of trouble in the second inning.

A Mike Napoli home run got the scoring started, though it was just the beginning for Boston who had a small army of men on base during the inning. A David Ross RBI double moments later scored the second run of the inning while a Jacoby Ellsbury RBI single to the pitcher scored the third and final run of the inning.

The Red Sox would add another run in the following inning thanks to a wild pitch that scored Mike Napoli, giving Boston a 4-0 lead.

That would be all the runs Sanchez would give up on the evening, though, it was more than enough for Red Sox starter Jon Lester who, while not overly effective still manged to get the job done. Lester was hit around a bit, giving up seven kn and three base on ball in just 5.1 innings of work, though he limited the scoring for Detroit, giving up just two earned in his time on the mound. Lester departed with a 4-2 lead, in line for the win.

The Tigers did their best to make things interesting, scoring a run in the seventh inning to draw within a single run, though Red Sox closer Koji Uehara came in for a five out save, securing the victory for Boston.

With an off day on Friday, the ALCS will rekindle Saturday with Game 6 (either afternoon or evening, depending on the NLCS) where the Red Sox will attempt to close things out, while Detroit will attempt to force a winner-take-all Game 7.

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