Clincher

Rick Porcello was the difference maker as the Red Sox eliminated the Yankees in Tuesday night's game four of the ALDS. The New Jersey-born righthander kept forcing ground balls and weak outfield flies over his five innings -- while his guys built an early 4-0 lead. Boston skipper Alex Cora went to his bullpen in the 6th, and all went well until the 9th inning when closer Craig Kimbrel had trouble throwing strikes, when the Yankees scored a pair -- and came awfully close to tieing the game. The Red Sox held on for the 4-3 victory, with the game's standout player being the pitcher who grew up less than an hour from Yankee Stadium.
(My image of Rick Porcello is from a Tigers/Phillies spring training game in March 2011.)

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