Red Sox Through to World Series

After a stunning victory last night over the Detroit Tigers, the Boston Red Sox have been crowned American League Champions, ensuring they will play the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series beginning next week. As The New York Times reports, the triumph reperesents a remarkable turn around for the Red Sox who just a year ago were the lowest ranked team in the American League. Boston achieved a 5-2 victory over Detroit in Game 6 of the league championship series thanks to a punishing performance by Shane Victorino and a mediochre Tigers Bullpen.

Just as they had in Game 2, the Boston Red Sox outlasted Max Sherzer's fierce opening to punish the Tigers' relief pitchers. It was Victorino's stunning home run hit that sealed the game for the Red Sox, securing a second post-season grand slam for himself. The powerful shot came just after Detroit shorttop Jose Iglesias fumbled a ball that almost ended the inning. "It's a special moment that I'll never forget," Victorino told USA TODAY Sports following his incredible match performance. "We play 27 outs. We play 'til the end."

So it looks like this year is going to be a repeat of the 2004 World Series when the Red Sox swept the Cardinals. It's going to be a clash of the titans as these were statistically the two best teams of the season and had exactly the same 97-65 record. In 2012 the Cardinals where just one game away from making their second straight World Series, and must be out for blood. Yet the Red Sox have had such a dramatic turn around, one can only feel that they are moving from strength to strength which probably gives them the upper hand this fall.