Nomar Garciaparra and Kevin Millar smacked three-run home runs to propel the Red Sox past the Baltimore Orioles, 14-3 at Fenway Park and, more importantly, into the playoffs.
Bill Mueller also drove in three runs as the Red Sox wrapped up the American League wild-card spot and will meet the AL West champion Oakland Athletics in the AL Division Series next week.
The AL East champion New York Yankees face the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins in the other ALDS.
Fans greet Manny Ramirez as he returns to the dugout on Thursday.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
"It's really satisfying," Red Sox rookie general manager Theo Epstein said.
"We've had a pretty successful September," Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said. "Now we want a successful October."
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The Red Sox are in the post-season for the first time since losing to the New York Yankees in the 1999 AL Championship Series and still in search of their first World Series title since 1918.
"It's incredible," Red Sox owner John Henry. "I cannot imagine if we win a World Series, what it would feel like.
"We just won the wild card and it's one of the greatest moments of my life."
"We're definitely going to do it this year," Red Sox centrefielder Johnny Damon predicted.
Derek Lowe pitched six strong innings to earn the victory, improving to 6-1 in his last nine starts.
Lowe (17-7) gave up two runs -- one earned -- on two hits with four walks and one strikeout.
Garciaparra drove in four runs and Jason Varitek also homered for the Red Sox, who took three of four games in the series and have won four of their last five.
"The Red Sox did what they do best -- score runs," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said. "They're an awfully good ballclub and they deserve what they've gotten because they've worked hard for it all year."
Baltimore starter Omar Daal lasted just 1 2/3 innings in defeat.
Daal (4-11) was pounded for seven runs on seven hits.
The Red Sox, who gave up seven runs before coming to bat in Wednesday's 7-3 loss, scored two runs in the first and opened a 12-0 lead after four innings in this one.
Damon started the first with an infield single, took second on a double by Mueller and scored on a grounder by Garciaparra.
Manny Ramirez followed with a single to put runners on the corners for David Ortiz, whose fielder's choice scored Mueller for a 2-0 lead.
Boston then blew it open with five in the second with the help of two homers.
Varitek led off with his 25th homer and back-to-back doubles by Gabe Kapler and Damian Jackson produced the fourth run of the game.
After Damon flied out and Mueller was hit by a pitch, Garciaparra launched a three-run homer into the Monster Seats to make it 7-0.
A two-out, two-run double by Mueller in the third made it 9-0 and Millar connected for his 25th homer of the season in the fourth, a three-run shot that hit the billboard above the Monster Seats for a 12-0 cushion.
The Orioles finally got on the board in the fifth, loading the bases with one out and scoring on a fielders's choice grounder by Brian Roberts.
A sacrifice fly by Tony Batista in the sixth gave Baltimore its second run.
Mueller singled home another run for Boston in the seventh.
Baltimore added a run on an RBI single by Pedro Swann in the eighth and Boston answered with a run in the bottom of the inning when Andy Abad scored on an error.
Game Notes
The Red Sox concluded their home schedule with a record of 53-28, the most home wins for the club since the 1988 team also went 53-28.
Garciaparra is still just 2-for-22 in his last six games.
The Orioles conclude the season with a four-game series against the Yankees in New York, starting with a twi-night doubleheader Friday.
with files from Sports Network
