BOSTON (AP) - The Boston Red Sox are going to the World Series for the third time in 10 seasons.
Shane Victorino launched a go-ahead grand slam in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Red Sox past the Detroit Tigers 5-2 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. Victorino's home run came on an 0-2 pitch and followed an error by shortstop Jose Iglesias to load the bases.
Boston rallied after Tigers starter and losing pitcher Max Scherzer held them to one run and four hits while striking out eight over 6 1/3 innings. Scherzer left the game with a 2-1 lead, six days after leaving with the Tigers leading 5-1 after seven innings. Detroit also lost that game in part to a grand slam by David Ortiz and a meltdown by the Tigers' bullpen.
The Tigers didn't score following a two-run single by Victor Martinez in the sixth inning.
Junichi Tazawa retired one batter in the seventh to notch the win. ALCS MVP Koji Uehara worked the ninth for his third save of the series.
Next up for the Red Sox are the St. Louis Cardinals, who won the National League pennant by crushing the Dodgers 9-0 on Friday night. The Cards and Red Sox have met three times in the World Series, with the Bosox sweeping the last meeting in 2004 after the Redbirds beat Boston in seven-game sets in 1946 and '67.
