BOSTON — David Wells is a longtime, die-hard Babe Ruthfan, and he's doing his best to keep The Curse alive.
Wells worked his way out of trouble to put the New York Yankeeson the verge of another World Series, beating the Boston Red Sox4-2 Tuesday for a 3-2 lead in the AL championship series.
The Boomer sent the Yankees back to the Bronx with two chancesto extend Boston's perennial heartache, which began after the RedSox sold Ruth to the Yankees in 1920.
''I live for this time,'' the 40-year-old left-hander said. ''Ilive for being the guy to go out there and be the one on the mound,try to make things happen, try to shut the other team down becauseI'm not afraid to fail.''
New York headed home with Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens restedand ready for the final two games of the series, which continuesWednesday at Yankee Stadium. One win would give the Yankees theirfifth AL pennant in six seasons and sixth in eight years undermanager Joe Torre.
''We never get overconfident,'' Yankees captain Derek Jetersaid.
Boston planned to start John Burkett, 0-6 against the Yankees inhis career in the regular season, against Pettitte in Game 6,holding Pedro Martinez back for a seventh game rather than pitchhim on three days' rest. But knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who hasboth of his team's wins, said he thought he would be available ifthe Red Sox wanted him in relief.
''It'll be tough,'' said Game 5 starter Derek Lowe, who droppedto 0-2 in the series.
Still in the minds of the Red Sox is the first-round win overOakland, when Boston lost the first two games, then won three in arow.
"The clock is ticking on us right now,'' Red Sox manager GradyLittle said. ''This isn't something we've never been throughbefore. We were through this about a week ago.''
Karim Garcia, who cut a knuckle in Saturday's bullpen scufflewith a member of Boston's grounds crew, was inserted into NewYork's lineup just before gametime and hit a two-run single in thesecond. Boston fans taunted Garcia in the ninth with a sing-songchant of ''Jailbird.''
David Dellucci originally was slated to start in right field,but Torre told Garcia he was in the lineup after watching him inbatting practice.
''His eyes lit up,'' Torre said. ''He thanked me.''
Alfonso Soriano followed Garcia's hit with an RBI single -- itwas the first time either team scored as many as three runs in aninning during the series -- and later made a fantastic backflipthat helped stifle a Boston rally. Hideki Matsui added arun-scoring grounder in the eighth.
While New York is seeking its 39th AL pennant, Boston is tryingto get to the World Series for the first time since 1986. And, asYankee fans are sure to point out Wednesday night, the Red Soxhaven't won the World Series since 1918.
Wells revels in the history of the Yankees but both delights anddistracts his team. He gets big wins but also causes big troublefrom time to time.
''We know what he's capable of doing,'' Torre said. ''Whateverit takes to get the best out of someone -- we're all in this thingfor one reason, and that's the win.''
Wells improved to 10-2 in the postseason, allowing four hits inseven innings and just one run -- Manny Ramirez's homer in thefourth. It was his second big win against Boston. The Red Sox hadcut New York's AL East lead to 1 1/2 games before Wells beat them3-1 on Sept. 7.
Mariano Rivera finished for his fourth save of the postseason.He allowed his first run of the playoffs when Todd Walker tripledoff the right-field wall leading off the eighth and scored on agroundout by Nomar Garciaparra -- his first RBI of theplayoffs.
Garcia got the chance to be New York's offensive star when heshowed his manager his hand was OK.
''I had to impress Mr. Torre that I could swing the bat, firstof all, and I could hit the ball out of the park,'' he said.
Garcia tried to ignore the Boston fans, who taunted him in theninth.
''They can say whatever the like to,'' he said.
Lowe, who lost to Pettitte in Game 2, got in trouble in thesecond when he walked Jorge Posada with one out and, following aforceout, decided to intentionally walk Nick Johnson after fallingbehind 3-0.
Aaron Boone hit a hard bouncer to third that went off BillMueller's glove and into the air, with Mueller unable to grab itwith his bare hand on the first try.
Garcia, 1-of-10 against Lowe in the regular season, lined asinker into center for a 2-0 lead. Soriano, 1-for-16 in the seriesat that point, hit a hard smash into right field on the next pitchfor a 3-0 lead.
Boston went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and isbatting .250 against New York, just .230 in the playoffs. The RedSox put runners on second and third with one out in the third andloaded the bases in the fifth but didn't score either time.Garciaparra ended the third with a strikeout and Ramirez closed thefifth by grounding into a forceout at third.
Soriano made the biggest play of the fifth when he ran towardsecond on Johnny Damon's one-out grounder up the middle, stretchedto the shortstop side of the base and with his glove flipped theball back to Jeter, who caught it with his bare hand for theforce.
Despite its failures, Boston is confident Martinez will get topitch against Clemens in a Game 7.
''That's the way it's going to be,'' first baseman Kevin Millarsaid. ''Now we've got to find a way to get it even up.''
Notes:
Ramirez's homer was his 16th in postseason play, moving him pastRuth into fifth place on the career list. ... Burkett did beat theYankees in Game 1 of the 1996 AL division series for Texas,pitching a complete game in a 6-2 victory.
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