Cleveland Indians catcher Victor Martinez (left) and second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera celebrate after the Indians beat the Boston Red Sox, 13-6 in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday at Fenway Park in Boston. The series goes to Cleveland tied 1-1 with Game 3 on Monday night. AP

Former Boston right fielder Trot Nixon delivered the go-ahead run with a pinch-hit single to key the onslaught as the Indians handed the Red Sox their first loss in five post-season games.

Boston won the home opener in the best-of-seven series 10-3.

The series resumes with Game 3 in Cleveland on Monday, with Boston sending Daisuke Matsuzaka to the mound to face Jake Westbrook.

The next three games will take place at Jacobs Field in Cleveland.

After Nixon had broken the tie, another run scored on a wild pitch and the inning continued until Franklin Gutierrez hit a three-run homer deep into the night.

The Indians took control of the contest against losing pitcher Eric Gagne and three different Boston relievers struggled through the long inning in a game that lasted more than five hours.

"I felt good going to the plate," Nixon told reporters.

"I was excited to get in there, at 1:30 in the morning."

Earlier, Boston's Manny Ramirez broke the Major League post-season home run record with his 23rd round-tripper and drove in three runs for the Red Sox.

Jhonny Peralta and Grady Sizemore also homered for the Indians, who are trying to win their first World Series since 1948.

Exciting games

"It certainly didn't end like what we wanted it to, but for the very most part it was one of the most exciting games I've ever been part of," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

The game ended hours after talented starters Curt Schilling of the Red Sox and Fausto Carmona had departed.

Neither made it through five innings and the game was tied at 6-6 after the Indians scored in the top of the sixth.

"Everything about this falls on me," said Schilling, who remains at 9-2 lifetime in the post-season.

"This was all about me coming up small in a big game."

The bullpens took over from that point and kept the game deadlocked until the Cleveland eruption in the 11th.

"Our bullpen did a fantastic job," Indians manager Eric Wedge added.

In addition to setting the all-time post-season home run record, Ramirez's homer was his ninth in ALCS play, tying the league record. He also set another post-season record when he drew his third walk with the bases loaded.

It was the second straight three-RBI game for the red-hot Ramirez, with teammate Mike Lowell also driving in three runs for the second straight game.

The pair hit back-to-back homers off reliever Rafael Perez in the fifth inning to give Boston its 6-5 lead.

The winner of the ALCS will face the National League champions in the World Series.

The NLCS resumes in Denver on Sunday with the Colorado Rockies holding a 2-0 lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks after winning both games in Phoenix.

Josh Fogg will pitch for the Rockies, who have won 19 of their last 20 games. Livan Hernandez goes for Arizona.

Agencies

(China Daily 10/15/2007 page12)