Drive Alums Help Red Sox Advance to ALCS

With a 3-1 victory on Tuesday night, the Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in the Division Series and advanced to the American League Championship Series. The Greenville Drive were well-represented, with seven former players on the Division Series roster.

Five of those players were pitchers, with LH Jon Lester (2007) leading the way. He set the tone with an outstanding start in game one of the series, hurling seven and two-third innings and striking out seven while allowing just three hits and two runs. On the season, Lester posted a 15-8 record with a 3.75 ERA and struck out 177 batters in 213 1/3 innings.

RH Clay Buchholz (2006) started game three for the Red Sox and received a no-decision after giving up three runs and seven hits in six innings while striking out five. He was outstanding in the regular season despite missing three months of action with an injury. He went 12-1 and boasted a 1.74 ERA while holding opponents to a .199 average.

RH Brandon Workman (2011) threw two-thirds of an inning in game three. He proved to be a key member of the pitching staff after making his major league debut in July, as he posted a 6-3 record in 20 appearances, including three starts, while punching out 47 batters in 41 2/3 innings.

LH Franklin Morales (2013) made one appearance in the series, allowing a hit and a run in one-third of an inning. He battled injuries for much of the season, and posted a 4.62 ERA in 20 appearances after being activated from the disabled list.

LH Felix Doubront (2007-08) did not pitch in the Division Series, but he served in Boston's rotation for most of the 2013 season. In 29 appearances, including 27 starts, he went 11-6 with a 4.32 ERA.

Two position players also contributed in the Division Series. 3B Will Middlebrooks (2009) started all four games, going 3-13 at the plate with three walks and an RBI. He struggled mightily at the start of the regular season, but bounced back late and ended up with a .227 average and 17 homers.

SS Xander Bogaerts (2011) appeared in two games as a pinch hitter and pinch runner, drawing walks in his only two plate appearances and scoring three runs. After another outstanding minor league season where he hit .297 with 15 homers, he made his major league debut in August and batted .250 with a homer in 18 games.

The American League Championship Series begins on Saturday, with the Red Sox facing the winner of the Divison Series matchup between the Detroit Tigers and Oakland A's.