Jason Varitek got most of the night off. Then he got the big hit.
After resting for eight innings, Boston's catcher broke a ninth-inning tie on Tuesday with a pinch-hit homer that sent the Red Sox to a 5-3 victory in Cleveland and a two-game sweep of their American League championship series rematch.
Varitek didn't start as Kevin Cash caught knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. But the Boston captain came up with one out in the ninth and drove a 1-2 pitch from Jensen Lewis (0-1) the opposite way to left-center for his third career homer as a pinch-hitter.
"We can't have him catch 162 games," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "I struggle with that. Doesn't look like 'Tek' does."
The Red Sox, who won three straight over the Indians to advance to the World Series last October, will take a four-game winning streak to New York for a two-game set at Yankee Stadium starting this morning. The rivals just met last weekend, with Boston winning two of three.
Wang Chien-ming (3-0) is scheduled to start the opener for New York after pitching a two-hitter at Fenway Park last Friday. Clay Buchholz gets the ball for the Red Sox.
The Yankees are coming off a two-game sweep at Tampa Bay. Andy Pettitte allowed three runs over seven innings and Hideki Matsui homered in a 5-3 victory on Tuesday night.
"I think it was important that we won these two games," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "We go home with a 4-4 road trip that didn't start off too well. We lost the first two, won a couple, then lost two more. Hopefully it carries over."
In other AL games, it was: Tigers 6, Twins 5; Angels 7, Rangers 4; White Sox 4, Athletics 1; Mariners 11, Royals 6; and Blue Jays 11, Orioles 3.
In other National League, it was: Phillies 4, Astros 3; Cubs 9, Reds 5; Diamondbacks 8, Giants 2; Mets 6, Nationals 0; Cardinals 6, Brewers 1; Marlins 4, Braves 0; Padres 6, Rockies 0; and Dodgers 11, Pirates 2.
Pettitte (2-1) gave up nine hits - seven in the first three innings - struck out five and walked three. The left-hander is 14-2 against Tampa Bay overall, including 8-1 in Tampa. He lost his first start of the season to the Rays on April 5.
Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his fifth save in five opportunities.
"All of my pitches were working for the first time," Pettitte said. "I'm definitely pleased with where it's going. Each game has gotten better and better. I'm just real happy that I was able to get to my curveball a lot tonight."
Edwin Jackson (2-1) gave up five runs and four hits in five innings for Tampa Bay.
At Cleveland, Ohio, David Aardsma (1-1) got the final out in the eighth and Hideki Okajima worked the ninth for his first save.
Victor Martinez had three hits and two RBIs for the Indians, who have dropped five of six.
(Agencies April 17, 2008)