Craig Kimbrel has escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning as the Boston Red Sox held on for a 4-3 victory over the New York Yankees to win an American League Division Series in four games.
The Red Sox advanced to the AL Championship Series, where they will host Houston Astros in game one on Friday.
Kimbrel created his mess by loading the bases on four-pitch walks to Aaron Judge and Luke Voit sandwiched around a single by Didi Gregorius.
He allowed two runs by hitting Neil Walker in the foot and allowing a sacrifice fly to Gary Sanchez to deep left but escaped by retiring Gleyber Torres.
Torres hit a slow ground ball to third base, and Eduardo Nunez fielded it. He threw across the diamond to first baseman Steve Pearce, who stretched to make the catch.
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The Red Sox began celebrating, but the Yankees challenged the initial call. After 63 seconds, the original was upheld, and Boston formally began celebrating advancing to an 11th ALCS and first since beating Detroit in 2013.
The Red Sox carried a 4-1 lead into the ninth thanks to J.D. Martinez's sacrifice fly, run-scoring hits by Ian Kinsler and Nunez and a solo home run by Christian Vazquez.
Boston recorded their fourth-straight post-season win in New York.
Since losing game two of the 2004 ALCS, the Red Sox have outscored the Yankees 34-9 in post-season games in the Bronx.
