By Honah Liles
BU News Service

Don’t shave your beards just yet. The Red Sox are American League Champions and headed to the World Series for the first time since 2007, led by the bat of Shane Victorino in Game 6 of the ALCS.

The Sox took a 1-0 lead in the 5th with a Jacoby Ellsbury RBI but the Tigers responded with two runs in the 6th. Then in the 7th, Shane Victorino gave the Sox their winning runs with a grand slam. Prior to the 7th inning, Shane Victorino was 2 for 23 in this series.

The Red Sox defense had notable moments. After Victor Martinez drove in Detroit’s two runs with a single off the Monster, Dustin Pedoria led a big double play to get the Sox out of a potentially hazardous 6th inning. In the 7th, Stephen Drew had a diving catch Cabrera and prevent a run.

Red Sox closer Koji Uehara closed out the Tigers in the 9th. Uehara won 1 game and saved 3 in the series, earning him the series MVP award.

When asked what kind of pressure he felt during the games, Uehara replied through a translator, “To tell you the truth, I almost threw up.”

David Ortiz, referencing his famous moment last spring, took the mic in the post game ceremony and censored himself, saying with a grin, “This is our bleep city! Boston Strong!” He went on to praise first year Red Sox manager John Farrell and challenged the the Cardinals saying, “Bring it on!”

The Red Sox will take on the St. Louis Cardinals in the Sox’s third World Series appearance in 10 years; they won in both 2004– breaking the so-called Curse of the Bambino against the Cardinals– and 2007. It is their 12th appearance in franchise history.