Red Sox blitz Indians to force series decider

BOSTON (Reuters) - The Boston Red Sox hammered the Cleveland Indians 12-2 on Saturday to force a seventh and deciding game in the American League Championship Series.

Five RBIs by J.D. Drew and Curt Schilling's pitching fired the Red Sox, who will seek to complete the comeback from 3-1 down when they send Game 3 losing pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to the mound on Sunday against Jake Westbrook, who won the third game.

The winners face the Colorado Rockies in the World Series, beginning on Wednesday in either Boston or New York.

"There's nothing more (fun) in sports than a Game 7," Schilling told reporters after improving his post-season record to 10-2.

The Red Sox have won the last two games by a combined score of 19-3.

"It's still two games and you see a lot in a seven-game series," said Cleveland manager Eric Wedge. "It's going to come down to Game 7 between the two teams that won more games than anybody in the regular season, two teams that have beat each up on each other a little bit over the past week, and that's the way it should be.

"It's something everybody should look forward to."

Drew hit a grand slam in the first inning and added an RBI single in a six-run third that knocked Cleveland starter Fausto Carmona from the game. The right fielder has struggled in his first season in Boston after signing a $70 million contract but was called out for a curtain call after the home run.

Schilling delivered seven strong innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walking none and striking out five. He received a huge ovation from the crowd as he walked off after the seventh inning, doffing his cap before entering the dugout.

"(He) really really pitched like the guy that we need," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

It was the fifth time in his career that Schilling pitched a post-season game with his team facing elimination and he has won all five starts, for Philadelphia, Arizona and Boston.

The Red Sox are seeking to win their second World Series in the last four years. The Indians have not won it since 1948.

POP FLY

The Red Sox loaded the bases with no one out in the first inning on two infield hits and a walk to David Ortiz. Carmona then struck out Manny Ramirez and got Mike Lowell on a pop fly to short right but Drew connected on a 3-1 pitch, hitting a vicious line drive to left-centerfield.

"I didn't want to walk off the field without any runs, so I was trying to hit the ball hard," Drew said. "It worked out great."

Victor Martinez led off the second inning with a solo home run for Cleveland, after Grady Sizemore had started with a similar fly ball that was called a foul.

The Red Sox broke things open with the six-run third inning that included a pair of Cleveland errors and chased Carmona from the game.

Drew singled home one run and Julio Lugo had a two-run double in the big Boston third.