OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox can become the eighth team to rally from an 0-2 deficit in a best-of-five series Monday as they play the Oakland Athletics in Game Five of the American League Division Series.
After losing the first two games of the series at Network Associates Coliseum, the Red Sox posted back-to-back dramatic victories at Fenway Park over the weekend. Only seven teams have rallied from a two-games-to-none deficit to win a best-of-five series, including Boston over the Cleveland Indians in 1999.
The Athletics are on the verge of being on the opposite end of the spectrum for the second time. They blew a two-games-to-none series lead against the New York Yankees in the 2001 ALDS.
The Red Sox won Game Three on Trot Nixon's pinch-hit, two-run homer in the 11th inning and rallied for a 5-4 victory in Sunday's Game Four.
David Ortiz, who was hitless win his first 16 postseason at-bats, delivered a go-ahead two-run double off Oakland closer Keith Foulke in the eighth inning.
"This ball club, the fans of Boston, they just keep grinding all the way to the last out," Boston manager Grady Little said. "And we've had some players come through for us this year, day after day, and they continue to do that. And we feel we have a chance. As long as we have a uniform on and they have a schedule for us telling us there is another game, we feel like we have a chance."
Manny Ramirez snapped out of a slump with two hits and Todd Walker hit his third homer of the series for the Red Sox.
Oakland catcher Adam Melhuse, playing for the injured Ramon Hernandez, had three hits and Jermaine Dye homered and drove in three runs.
The A's have lost eight consecutive games in which they could have clinched a postseason series - the longest slide in major league history.
"We're very aware of what's in front of us," Oakland manager Ken Macha said. "We did what we could to win, but that's baseball. Those things happen, we could have had an extra run here or there, but that's the way it is. These guys, they'll be prepared to play (in Game Five)."
Oakland starter Tim Hudson left Sunday's game with a strained oblique muscle after the first inning, forcing Oakland to use three relievers for the final seven innings.
On Monday, the Athletics hand the ball to Barry Zito, who is pitching on three days' rest, while the Red Sox turn to ace Pedro Martinez.
"It should be a good game," Little said. "We like the guy we have got on the mound. So here we go."
Zito (1-0, 1.29 ERA) was dominant in Oakland's Game Two victory, allowing one run and five hits while striking out nine in seven innings. He will be pitching on three days' rest for the first time this season.
The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner improved to 4-2 with a 2.98 ERA in seven career starts against the Red Sox.
Zito is 3-1 in four postseason starts, yielding six runs and 19 hits in 26 2/3 innings.
Martinez (0-0, 3.86) did not get a decision in Game One after giving up three runs, six hits and four walks in seven innings. He left with a 4-3 lead, but Oakland rallied against Boston's unreliable bullpen.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner threw a season-high 130 pitches, but will be taking the mound after a full four days' rest.
Martinez is 7-2 with a 2.34 ERA in 10 career starts against the A's, including his performance in Game One. He is 4-1 in seven lifetime outings at Network Associates Coliseum.
