Boston blitzed by White Sox

Boston Red Sox, 2004’s World Series winners, were thrashed 14-2 by Chicago White Sox in game one of their American League Division Series yesterday.

The White Sox made a dream start, scoring five runs in the first innings off Boston starter Matt Clement.

The hosts struck five homers - A.J. Pierzynski (twice), Paul Konerko, Juan Uribe and Scott Podsednik going deep.

Elsewhere, the St Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees also made winning starts to their best-of-five series.

Reggie Sanders hit a grand slam and set a National League Division Series record with six RBIs as he led the Cardinals to an 8-5 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter pitched six scoreless innings before leaving the game with an 8-0 lead.

But the Padres scored once in the seventh, once in the eighth and three times in the ninth, when they loaded the bases with two outs before Jason Isringhausen struck out Ramon Hernandez.

Back in the American League, the Yankees saw off the LA Angels with a 4-2 scoreline.