Sox Sock Yanks, Cubs Cruise

The Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, two franchises that have suffered through decades of playoff frustration, put all that behind them Wednesday – at least for one night.

Tim Wakefield left the New York Yankees cursing his knuckleball, while David Ortiz, Todd Walker and Manny Ramirez left them marveling at their power.

In Chicago, the Cubs put on their own startling display of raw power at the plate and on the mound, and behind Mark Prior overwhelmed the Florida Marlins 12-3 to even the NL championship series after two games.

Red Sox 5, Yankees 2

For all the "Star Wars" imagery and talk of good versus evil, Game 1 of the AL championship series was decided by Wakefield's darting knuckler and Boston's overpowering bats.

"Our offense came through. It's unbelievable," Wakefield said Wednesday night after the Red Sox put aside fatigue and opened with a 5-2 victory.

Ortiz started Boston off with a two-run homer in the fourth inning, and Walker and Ramirez added solo shots in the fifth off a shaky Mike Mussina.

Wakefield befuddled New York's batters, taking a five-run lead into the seventh before he got wild and three relievers from Boston's beleaguered bullpen completed the three-hitter.

"He had a good one," Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter said. "Nobody knew where it was going."

All the chants and signs reminding Boston of its 85-year title drought only seemed to spur on the Red Sox against their old rivals, who have dominated their Northeast neighbors for decades.

After traveling from Boston to Oakland on Sunday night, then winning Game 5 on Monday night and flying back across the country, the Red Sox seemed bleary-eyed when they arrived at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday. But when it came time to play, they had the energy and emotion, not New York, which had been off since winning its first-round series at Minnesota on Sunday.

Wakefield, who retired 14 straight batters starting in the second, said he was going on adrenaline.

"I told all my friends don't call me because I'm going to be sleeping in," he said.

Ever since December, when Boston president Larry Lucchino called the Yankees the "Evil Empire," the Red Sox have played off imagery from "Star Wars," painting themselves as white knights trying to knock off the 26-time World Series champions.

Following their stunning comeback from a 2-0 deficit against the Athletics, Lucchino even predicted the Red Sox, who haven't won the Series since trading Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1920 — supposedly bringing on The Curse — would have The Force on their side.

Yankees fans kept reminding the Red Sox of their title drought, taunting them by screaming "1918," but it just seemed to fuel the Red Sox, who showed force at the plate and rapped out 13 hits, including four by Ramirez, who grew up close to Yankee Stadium.

Derek Lowe tries to make it 2-0 Thursday night when he pitches Game 2 of the best-of-seven series against New York's Andy Pettitte.

Cubs 12, Marlins 3

Sammy Sosa called it a stroke of luck. More like the stroke of a slugger primed to lead his team deep into the postseason.

Sosa struck again Wednesday night, this time clearing the juniper bushes in dead center field with a 495-foot shot that left teammate Kenny Lofton shuddering.

And that was just the beginning for the Chicago Cubs.

"I was so happy that I had a chance to produce," Sosa said. "As soon as I put the swing on the ball, the ball was out of the ballpark.

"I've been lucky. I've been seeing good pitches and I've hit them out," he said.

He's had plenty of company, too.

Alex Gonzalez homered twice and Aramis Ramirez also connected for the Cubs. But it was Sosa's shot that woke up Wrigley Field.

"This is the prime time to do it," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "He really hasn't had a hot streak all year. It seems when he does, he hits a home run every at-bat.

"I'm hoping it's on the way. Boy, it's coming right on time," he said.

A day after he tied the game with a two-out, two-run shot in the ninth for his first postseason home run, Sosa hit a two-run drive in the second inning that went even farther.

By a lot.

Sosa launched a drive that soared over the ivy-covered wall, sailed above the shrubbery that serves as a batter's backdrop and threatened to fly completely out of the park. Only a television camera booth kept the ball from becoming a street souvenir.

Lofton, who was on third base, shuddered as he watched it go. Marlins center fielder Juan Pierre didn't even bother to move.

"He hit that a mile. He can do that every once in a while," Gonzalez said.

Coming off his two-hit gem in the opening round against Atlanta, Prior was good enough. Of course, being handed an 11-0 lead after five innings helped the 23-year-old keep his composure.

"We fell behind too early. When you're down 8-0 in the third inning, you're in trouble," Marlins manager Jack McKeon said.

Asked whether he had reconsidered his strategy about pitching to Sosa, McKeon bucked up.

"Did he beat us? Enough said," he said.

Now, the best-of-seven series shifts to Pro Player Stadium for Game 3 Friday night. While the Marlins are one of baseball's best home teams, the Cubs must like their chances with Kerry Wood pitching against Mark Redman.