Record-Breaking Red Sox Clinch World Series Berth

NEW YORK - The Boston Red Sox crushed the New York Yankees 10-3 Wednesday to complete an historic comeback victory over their arch-rivals by four games to three in the American League Championship Series.

The Red Sox set up a World Series showdown with the St Louis Cardinals or the Houston Astros after becoming the first team in major league baseball to overturn a three-game deficit to win a best-of-seven series.

The World Series introduced a seven-game series in 1909, interrupted only by nine-game deciders from 1919-21. Championship series in the American and National leagues have been decided over the best of seven games since 1985.

Boston's Johnny Damon clubbed a grand slam in the second inning and a two-run blast in the fourth. David Ortiz, the ALCS MVP, had a two-run homer in the first, Mark Bellhorn added a home run in the eighth and Orlando Cabrera's sacrifice fly scored Trot Nixon in the ninth.

Derek Lowe pitched a one-hitter over six innings.