Yankees choke on their own medicine

BOSTON -- It may have been the last gasp for the Boston Red Sox' self-styled rebels with a cause. The World Series is still a long shot, an impossible dream, as they once said here. But the Red Sox still have a chance.

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The Yankees were three outs from sweeping their tortured rivals in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Sunday, with Mariano Rivera facing the bottom of the lineup in the bottom of the ninth inning.

But the Red Sox tied the score then and won it in the 12th, 6-4, when David Ortiz lined a two-run game-ending homer into the Yankees' bullpen off Paul Quantrill. Fenway Park, which played a sad host to a 19-8 massacre by the Yankees on Saturday, was thumping. The Red Sox had their first victory in the best-of-seven-game series after three discouraging defeats.

"I'm a firm believer in momentum in a short series," Yankees Manager Joe Torre said. "But we have to certainly look at the big picture and see where we are."

Quantrill, the Yankees' fifth pitcher of the game, started the 12th and gave up a leadoff single to Manny Ramirez before Ortiz connected with his latest two-run game-ending blast. Ortiz won the division series against the Anaheim Angels in the same way on Oct. 8. That was the last game the Red Sox had won before Sunday.

"Ortiz is a great hitter," said Quantrill, who threw him an inside fastball. "He beat me. I felt pretty good. I just didn't get my job done."

No team has ever even forced a Game 7 after trailing by 3-0 in a best-of-seven-game series. But the Red Sox have made this intriguing, if only for their next two starters: Pedro Martínez in Game 5 and Curt Schilling in a possible Game 6.

The Yankees almost always win when Martínez pitches, but he at least gives Boston a chance to send the series back to Yankee Stadium. Schilling, the ace with a dislocated tendon in his right ankle, had an encouraging bullpen session on Sunday.

"He did very well," Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said. "As far as I'm concerned, it's not an issue. We've just got to get to Game 6."

With a 4-3 lead after seven innings, the Yankees must have thought their next game would be Saturday, when the World Series begins.

After two scoreless innings by Tanyon Sturtze, Rivera took over for the eighth. Torre was bypassing Tom Gordon to seize the pennant with his best reliever.

Rivera retired the last three batters in the eighth but walked Kevin Millar to start the ninth. After the game, that was what gnawed at Rivera.

"I don't see it as frustrating," Rivera said. "I see it as: I walked the first guy. I can't do that. That was how they tied the game."

Dave Roberts pinch-ran, and Rivera tried to hold him close. But Roberts got a big lead and stole second just ahead of Jorge Posada's strong throw.

Up next was Bill Mueller, who pierced some of Rivera's invincibility with a two-run, game-ending homer in July. That was one of seven saves Rivera has blown against Boston since the start of the 2001 season.

Mueller singled to center, scoring Roberts from second to tie the score at 4-4. Rivera got the ball back and whipped it into his glove, a rare expression of emotion. Pinch-hitter Doug Mientkiewicz bunted back to Rivera, who had no play at second and fired to first, in time.

With one out and a runner at third, the Red Sox were a fly ball from a victory. They got a bouncer to first by Johnny Damon, but they also got a break. Tony Clark - playing for John Olerud, who is on crutches with a bruised left instep - bobbled the ball. By the time Clark secured it, Damon was safe.

Orlando Cabrera struck out, but Rivera walked Manny Ramirez to load the bases for Ortiz. He popped out to second base, ending the inning with the score tied, 4-4.

"I can tell you one thing right now," Ortiz said. "Rivera, he's throwing the best that I have seen him pitch since last year. It's hard to score on Rivera. When he makes mistakes, that's when you have the opportunity."