The AL Pennant Will Be Decided At Fenway

A crapfest of a second inning doomed the Red Sox last night, and the Tigers took Game 4, 7-3.

Jake Peavy was not sharp at all, as he walked three batters, including the struggling Austin Jackson. They all came in to score in a five-run inning. It could have been just one run, as Dustin Pedroia mishandled a ground ball by Jose Iglesias that could have been a DP to end it. (And the Sox were fortunate to get one out, as Stephen Drew was far off second base taking Pedroia's relay.)

Peavy gave up seven runs, and the Sox were basically finished. The bullpen actually did a good job after Peavy left, allowing Detroit nothing in the last five innings.

The Red Sox showed some offensive life last night and chipped away, getting it to 7-3 in the ninth. They got 12 hits, matching their total for the first 3 games. Jacoby Ellsbury had four of them. But they wasted too many opportunities early on, as they were 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position.

Xander Boegarts doubled and scored in the ninth, and John Farrell may indeed go to him for Game 5. Stephen Drew and Will Middlebrooks are both in big time struggles this postseason. A lineup shakeup, which Jim Leyland did in Game 4 with successful results, maybe happening tonight for the Sox.

It's now a Best-of-3, with Jon Lester getting the ball tonight against Anibal Sanchez, a repeat of the starters for Game 1. No matter what happens tonight, the new AL champions will be crowned at Fenway Park this weekend.