BoSox Lead Yankees 2-1 After Five Innings

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox held a 2-1 lead over the New York Yankees after five innings of play Monday in Game 5 of the ALCS.

After singles by Orlando Cabrera and Manny Ramirez in the first off Yankees starter Mike Mussina, David Ortiz added another single to make the score 1-0. Jason Varitek drew a bases-loaded walk to give Boston a 2-0 lead.

Bernie Williams hit a solo homer in the top of the second off Red Sox starter Pedro Martinez to pull New York within 2-1 as the Yankees tried again to close out Boston at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox threatened again in the third. Ramirez drew a leadoff walk and after Ortiz struck out, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter muffed a grounder from Kevin Millar to put runners at first and second. Mussina struck out Trot Nixon and Varitek to end the inning.

Jorge Posada opened the Yankees fourth with a single to right field and advanced to second on Ruben Sierra’s walk. Tony Clark went down swinging for the first out of the inning. Miguel Cairo followed with a fly to right field and Jeter ended the inning with a grounder to first.

The Red Sox staved off elimination by rallying for a 6-4 victory in 12 innings. The game lasted 5 hours, 2 minutes and ended at 1:22 a.m. EDT, marking the second consecutive marathon these clubs have played. Saturday’s 19-8 win by the Yankees took 4 hours, 20 minutes. The teams only had about 15 hours to get ready for Game 5, which started at 5:10 p.m.

New York still needs just one win in the next three days to advance to the World Series. Of the 25 previous teams to take a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series, none were pushed to Game 7. Only two even went to a sixth game.

Yet the Yankees know they wasted a great opportunity to knock out the Red Sox. Curt Schilling, injured ankle and all, is expected to pitch Game 6 for Boston at Yankee Stadium – if it gets that far.