The Associated Press

Evan Longoria, right, exchanges a celebratory greeting with Willy Aybar after homering in the first inning of Tuesday’s rout at Fenway. The Rays are a win away from the World Series.

The Associated Press

It was another frustrating night for David Ortiz, who got his first hit in the series, leaving him at 1 for 14 with no homers and no RBI in four games.

GAME 5

WHO: Red Sox (Matsuzaka) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (Shields)

WHEN: 8:07 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Fenway Park

SERIES: Rays lead, 3-1

TELEVISION: TBS

BOSTON — In Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, the Boston Red Sox came out as flat as Tim Wakefield's knuckleball.

Wakefield watched his pitches fly out of Fenway Park. His relievers did not help, and his teammates offered token offensive support as the Tampa Bay Rays routed Boston 13-4 Tuesday night before 38,133 at Fenway.

Tampa Bay tattered Wakefield for six hits (three homers) and five runs in 2 2/3 innings, and then bullied the bullpen for more.

Meanwhile, Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine allowed six hits, one walk and four runs (three earned) over 7 1/3 innings.

The win gives Tampa Bay a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. After a day off today, the Rays can clinch their first World Series berth with a victory on Thursday at Fenway.

"It hurts," Wakefield said. "I put us in too deep of a hole."

For the Red Sox, their hope lies in history. The Red Sox trailed the 2004 ALCS 3-0 and the 2007 ALCS 3-1. Both times, Boston rebounded for the title, as well as a World Series championship.

"I think every year is different," Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said. "But we'll set our sights on our next game, and we'll come packed (to fly to St. Petersburg)."

Do the Red Sox have three straight wins in them?

Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Game 1 winner, goes for the Red Sox on Thursday, and then Boston has Josh Beckett and Jon Lester scheduled to pitch the remaining games in St. Petersburg, Fla., if those games are played.

But Boston, which once boasted of nine straight postseason wins by its starters, is shaky on the hill. Beckett and Lester got hit hard in Games 2 and 3, and Wakefield might have fared better in a slow-pitch softball game.

Wakefield struck out leadoff batter Akinori Iwamura, but walked B.J. Upton on four pitches.

Carlos Pena followed with a blast over the Green Monster.

Evan Longoria followed that with his own shot over the Monster, giving Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead.

"That was awesome," Sonnanstine said. "Before I threw my first pitch we were up 3-0."

Sonnanstine made sure there was no comeback, holding Boston to two hits over the first six innings. With his control, the patient Red Sox hitters could not wait to go into deep counts. Sonnanstine kept them off balance with 90 mph fastballs that hit their spots with movement.

Sonnanstine needed 11 pitches to go 1-2-3 in the first inning. Already, Boston looked in trouble.

The Red Sox got a hint of a rally in the second. With one out, Jason Bay reached second on a two-error (fielding and throwing) play by Longoria at third. Mark Kotsay singled him to third. But Coco Crisp grounded sharply into a 4-6-3 double play.

Wakefield looked dominant in the second, needing four pitches to retire the side. Then he easily got the first two batters in the third inning

"My rhythm was a little off. Then I felt like I got my rhythm back," Wakefield said.

But Carl Crawford hit a dribbler to the right side. Wakefield dived to make the play, but Crawford beat the throw. Wakefield stood up slowly.

"I jammed my neck pretty good," Wakefield said. "But I'm not making excuses. I just made a bad pitch to Aybar."

Willy Aybar followed Crawford and launched another ball over the Monster for a 5-0 lead. Dioner Navarro singled to chase Wakefield.

"He left some balls up. The balls he left up got whacked pretty good," Francona said.

Kevin Cash homered off Sonnanstine to lead off the third inning. But Sonnanstine retired the next 12 batters.

Justin Masterson relieved Wakefield and pitched almost as long, giving up a run over 2 1/3.

Reliever Manny Delcarmen guaranteed the rout. He got only one out in the sixth inning, allowing five runners (two hits and three walks). They all scored for an 11-1 Tampa Bay lead.

"To be in the position we are right now is a surprise," said Crawford, a veteran of some bad Rays teams. Crawford went 5 for 5 Tuesday.

Boston got a run in the seventh (David Ortiz triple, Kevin Youkilis RBI groundout) and two in the eighth (Jed Lowrie single, Dustin Pedroia RBI single, Youkilis RBI double).

"We just have to win the next game," Crisp said. "That's all."

Staff writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

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