Saltalamacchia’s single to center scored Napoli, cutting the Tigers’ lead to six.
Saltalamacchia’s single to center scored Napoli, cutting the Tigers’ lead to six.
The Red Sox scored added runs in the seventh and ninth innings.
Shane Victorino had an RBI double off Al Alburquerque in the seventh.
Joaquin Benoit gave up an RBI triple to Ellsbury in the ninth.
“This game was very significant when you saw two teams, in my opinion, I think the two best teams are playing for the American League Championship,” Leyland said. “That’s my personal opinion. And you saw how this is such a dangerous teams. They just never quit. They’ve got a bunch of veterans.
“Oakland didn’t have quite as many veterans and they battled and ground it out. And now we play with a team that has more veterans and grind it out. They’re very tough. And I think we showed tonight that we’re tough, too.”