The Boston Red Sox are alive and remain in the MLB Playoffs schedule as we enter the final days of the League Division Series. After their 3-1 victory in Game 4 over the Tampa Bay Rays (which also summarizes how the series ended) the Red Sox advanced to the 2013 A.L. Championship Series. Who do they play? When do the games start? We take a look at the dates for the ALCS, which will feature the Boston Red Sox.
**** UPDATE***** Friday, 11:15 a.m. ET- Time added
Dates: Game 1- Saturday, Oct. 12 @Fenway Park 8 p.m. ET
Game 2- Sunday, Oct. 13 @Fenway Park 8 p.m. ET
Game 3- Tuesday, Oct. 15 @Comerica Park 4 p.m. ET
Game 4- Wednesday, Oct. 16 @Comerica Park 8 p.m.
Game 5- Thursday, Oct. 17 @Comerica Park 4:30 p.m. ET
Game 6- Saturday, Oct. 19** @Fenway Park 8 p.m. ET
Game 7- Sunday, Oct. 20** @Fenway Park 8 p.m. ET
It's the old 2-3-2 format and after the Red Sox finished with the best record in baseball, they get home field advantage for the ALCS.
Through the first four postseason games, the Red Sox look like the smartest club. Signing Shane Victorino makes so much sense now as the Flying Hawaiian is matching Dustin Pedroia's intensity game after game. The Red Sox got two runs with Victorino at the plate in the series-ending Game 4. Jake McGee wanted nothing to do with Victorino and while trying to stay out of trouble and get the outfielder to chase, he threw the ball in the dirt, which wound up in the backstop and scored a run for the Red Sox. When Victorino made contact, he drove in Jacoby Ellsbury from third, giving the Red Sox the lead.
Victorino sandwiched between Ellsbury and Pedroia in the lineup was pure venom to the Rays. Ellsbury hit.500 and had a .526 OBP, while Victorino hit .429 with a whopping .556 OBP. It's tempting to spell "victory" when typing out Victorino's name, but that's where the Red Sox are headed if they continue to assault pitching in the ALCS.
Who Would the Red Sox Face?
UPDATE--- 11:16 a.m.- Red Sox will face the Detroit Tigers
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Up next in the ALCS, the Red Sox will have the tough task of playing a truly scrappy and determined Oakland A's team or the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers are the defending 2012 ALCS winners. However, they are struggling once again against the Athletics in the division series. Last year, the Tigers and Athletics went to a Game 5 in the ALDS and 2013 will see the same results.
The A's could not shut the door on the Tigers after holding a 3-0 lead. The series will conclude on Thursday as the Coliseum hosts Game 5 of the ALDS.