Red Sox beat Tigers 5-2 to advance to World Series

BOSTON The Boston Red Sox are going back to the World Series for the third time in 10 seasons.

Shane Victorino's seventh-inning grand slam propelled Boston to a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night, clinching the AL championship series in six games and setting up a World Series rematch with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Red Sox will host Game 1 on Wednesday night against the team they swept in 2004 to end their 86-year title drought. The Cardinals won the NL pennanton Friday night by eliminating the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.

With 21-game winner Max Scherzer on the mound, Detroit took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning and held it until Boston loaded the bases on a double, a walk and an error by shortstop Jose Iglesias. Victorino lofted an 0-2 pitch from Jose Veras over the Green Monster.