Boston Red Sox Win American League Pennant
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Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images(BOSTON) — Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino hit a grand slam Saturday night, to give Boston a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers and clinching the American League pennant.
Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the Red Sox loaded the bases with a double by Jonny Gomes, a walk by Xander Bogaerts and a fielding error by rookie shortstop Jose Iglesias on a ball hit by Jacoby Ellsbury.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland called in reliever Jose Veras, who got ahead of Victorino 0-2. But the two-time All-Star took the next pitch, a hanging curverball, and sent it over the Green Monster, giving the Red Sox the lead.
Boston closer Koji Uehara pitched a scoreless ninth to give the Red Sox a six-game victory over the Tigers in the American League Championship series. Uehara was named the series Most Valuable Player.
Boston will host the St. Louis Cardinals in Game One of the World Series beginning Wednesday night.
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