BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox are now on their way to the American League Championship Series, sweeping the Los Angeles Angels three games to none Sunday in the best of five series, routing the Angels 9-1 in California.

The Sox power-hitting duo of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez sparked Boston's winning game with two, back-to-back homeruns in the fourth inning. Veteran Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, 40, also delivered a masterful performance, serving up more than 100 pitches that took all the magic out of the Angels' postseason play.

"I think they're as good a one-two punch as there is in baseball," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Ramirez and Ortiz, congratulating the Sox on the win.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona also credited Schilling's skill on the mound for the win.

"I thought Schill was outstanding, especially in command of his fastball ... he really pitched," Francona said. "When he got himself backed into a corner he executed his pitches."

As for Schilling, the pitcher acknowledged that it took him a few innings to find his groove.

"There was a couple points in this game where I felt the game was absolutely on the line," he said.

Schilling credited Boston catcher Jason Varitek and pitching coach John Farrell for much of the win.

"That performance today was as much about John Farrell and Jason Varitek as it was about anything," Schilling said in a postgame interview. "Jason was flawless today. Best game-plan calling as I ever had ... he didn't miss a beat."

The Sox will go on to face the winner of the Cleveland Indians-New York Yankess contest for the American League championship. The Colorado Rockies will play the Arizona Diamondbacks for the National League championship.

For the Angels, it was a do or die game and as they took the field in Anaheim under sunny skies, and their fans seemed hopeful the home field advantage would give the ailing Angels the boost they needed to avoid being swept for the division championship, but injuries and other problems combined to keep L.A. from advancing to the league championship.

"I thought our team was very talented and I thought it was deep ... but we couldn't get anything going in these playoffs. As disappointing as this was in this series, I think you need to look back and see what a terrific season we had to get to this point," Scioscia said.

The Angels started strong, young pitcher Jered Weaver quickly dispatching the Sox in Boston's first inning at bat. Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia hit a fly ball that was caught by the Angels' third baseman Chone Figgins and Pedroia was out at first base. He was followed at bat by Sox first baseman Kevin Youklis, who was struck out. Sox power hitter David Ortiz was then struck out by Weaver.

Veteran Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling then took the mound after 11 days rest. Figgins fouled to left field before hitting a fly ball to left center field that was caught by Boston's Coco Crisp for one out. The Angels' Orlando Cabrera managed to make it to first base on a single, but Schilling's low pitch to L.A.'s Vladimir Guerrero forced Guerrero to hit a soft line drive that was caught for a second out. L.A.'s Garret Anderson then hit a fly ball to right field that was easily caught and he was out, closing the first inning.

At the top of the second inning, Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez got the lead-off walk to first base, then stole third when Boston's third baseman Mike Lowell hit a double to left field that the Angels' Anderson caught and sent to third, where the Angels' third baseman just failed to tag Ramirez, who slid into third and then hung on to the bag to remain safe.

Boston's J.D. Drew then tapped a ball to Weaver, who threw to first for the first out. Drew was followed at bat by Sox catcher Jason Varitek, who Weaver struck out. Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp was also efficiently struck out.

The Angels' Kendry Morales then had a turn at bat, hitting a fly ball to right center field, with Boston's J.D. Drew making the catch there for an out. Los Angeles' Maicer Izturis got to first on a single to left field, but the Angel's Howie Kendrick hit a line drive to left field that was caught by Ramirez and the Sox executed a double play to take both Kendrick and Izturis out.

At the top of the third inning, Weaver quickly took care of the Red Sox' Julio Lugo, Justin Pedroia and Kevin Youklis in short order, with Lugo hitting a pop fly to center field and Figgins making the catch for the first out. Weaver then struck Pedroia out at bat and Youklis was out with a fly ball to right field that was caught by Guerrero.

In the bottom of the third inning, Juan Rivera got a third hit off Schilling with a ball to center field, hitting a single that got him onto first base.

He was followed at bat by Angels catcher Mike Napoli, who Schilling struck out. The Angels' Figgins hit a single, getting to first, but sacrificing Rivera in the process, who was tagged out at second. Orlando Cabrera then hits a line drive to Manny Ramirez in left field, allowing Figgins to run from first base to steal third base. Sox third baseman Mike Lowell caught the ball at third, looking as if he tagged Figgins, but the umpire called Figgins safe.

Schilling then walked Angels right fielder Vladimir Guerrero, who took first base. Angels outfielder Reggie Willits was then up to bat. He hit a fly ball that was caught by Sox catcher Varitek for the third out of the inning.

Red Sox power hitter David Ortiz then was the first to bat at the top of the fourth inning, calmly hitting a lofty home run to right field and drawing first blood for Boston in Game 3 of the series.

Ortiz was followed at bat by Sox left fielder Ramirez, who hit another home run to left field, making the score 2-0 Boston at the top of the fourth.

Boston's Mike Lowell then hit a fly ball that was caught by Angels first baseman Kendry Morales for one out. J.D. Drew then hit another fly to left field that was caught by Willits for the second out, and Sox catcher Varitek hit a fly to right center field for the third out of the inning.

The Red Sox only seemed to pick up steam in the bottom of the fourth, with Schilling quickly dispatching Angels' batters Morales, Izturis and Kendrick, all of whom were tagged out at first base after hitting easy ground balls to Boston's infield.

When the Sox went to bat at the top of the fifth, Crisp was out after hitting a fly ball on his first pitch, but Boston's Julio Lugo dropped a hit into short center field for a single. He then stole second base on a Weaver pitch to Pedroia, who was eventually walked to first base as well. With two men on base, Youklis hit a little pop to second base and the Angels took out both Pedroia and Youklis on a double play at second and first bases.

The Angels' Rivera had no luck at his next at bat in the bottom of the fifth, however, as Schilling quickly struck him out on three 89 mph pitches. Schilling then pitched a little soft breaking ball to Angels catcher Napoli, who hit a fly out to left field that dropped in front of Boston's Ramirez, sending Napoli to first base. Angels third baseman Figgins followed Napoli to bat but had no room for error as Schilling threw him two strikes to start. Figgins proceeded to foul out a number of pitches before hitting a fly ball to left field, where Ramirez caught it for the out. Angels shortstop Cabrera then hit a fly ball to J.D. Drew in right field for L.A.'s third out of the inning, leaving the Angels scoreless at the top of the sixth.

The Angels decided to take Weaver off the mound after he walked Boston's Ortiz at the top of the sixth. He was replaced by Angels reliever Scot Shields, who took the mound to face Boston's Ramirez. After seven pitches, Ramirez hit a pop fly to center field that was caught for the first Sox out of the inning. Mike Lowell then hit an easily-caught grounder that allowed the Angels to execute a double play, getting Lowell and Ortiz out a first and second.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, L.A.'s Guerrero again hit a ground ball to third and was tagged out at first base. The Angels' Willits was then struck out in three pitches. He was followed at bat by L.A.'s Morales, who hit a ground down the first base line to Boston's Youklis, who easily beat him to first base for the third out.

Boston's Drew was first to bat at the top of the seventh inning and he was quickly struck out by Shields. He was followed at bat by Sox catcher Varitek, who was also struck out in short order by Shields. Crisp was then up to bat but hit little hit was easily caught and he was tagged at first for the third Sox out of the inning.

The Angels' Izturis then faced Schilling's smoking 90 mph pitches, still hot after more than 80 pitches in the bottom of the seventh. Izturis then hits a high fly ball to center field, which Crisp caught in his glove, but then lost as he hit the ground in his diving catch, allowing Izturis to make it to second base.

L.A.'s Kendrick then followed Izturis to bat, hitting a high foul ball to right field. He hit another to right field and Pedroia catches it to throw to Youklis at first for an out, although Izturis advanced to third on the play. L.A.'s Rivera went up to bat, but fell victim to a an off-speed splitter pitched by Schilling that resulted in a pop up fly by Rivera that was caught by Youklis for the second Angels out. The play kept Rivera from driving in Izturis from third base. The Angels' Napoli then came to bat hitting a foul ball on Schilling's 99th pitch. On the next pitch, Schilling struck him out.

At the top of the eighth inning, Sox shortstop Lugo was up to bat and was walked by Shields, who let him get to first base. After that, Shields was taken out and Angels reliever Justin Speier took over the mound to face Pedroia. Shields did little to help the Angels, as Pedroia then neatly hit a high fly to the left field corner, allowing Lugo to run all the way in to home, making it 3-0. Then, Youklis hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Pedroia come home to score, making the score 4-0. Ortiz then came to bat and hit a single to left field.

The Angels changed pitchers again to bring Darren Oliver to the mound.

Ramirez then came to bat and was walked to first base. Boston's Mike Lowell went to bat and the Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury took Ramirez' place to run the bases. Lowell hit a fair ball along the left field line bringing Ortiz in for a 5-0 score and leaving Ellsbury at third and Lowell at second with J.D. Drew up to bat. Drew hits a ball along the first base line and Ellsbury steals home as Napoli caught the ball but failed to tag him in time, giving the Sox a 6-0 lead.

Boston's Varitek then came to bat and hit a high fly to a hole in center field, bringing Lowell in for a score of 7-0. Crisp then came to back and hit a high ball to center field to bring in two more runs for a 9-0 score. Pedroia returned to bat again hits a little pop to the infield for a third out.

The Red Sox brought in closer Hideki Okajima at the bottom of the eighth, facing L.A.'s Figgins. Figgins hit a high ball to the right field corner that got past J.D. Drew, putting Figgins on second base. Cabrera then hit a hard shot to left field that Ellsbury leaped up to catch for one out. Then Guerrero hit a high foul ball along the first base line that was caught by Youklis for the Angels' second out and Morales eventually came to bat, hitting a high ball to right center field that Crisp easily snagged for the third out and the end of the eighth inning, the Angels still scoreless.

At the top of the ninth, the Angels sent Dustin Moseley to the mound to pitch to Youklis who hit a single to take first base. Boston's Eric Hinske went to bat in Ortiz' place, but was struck out by Moseley. Jacoby Ellsbury then hit a short pop fly that was easily snagged for a second out, and Youklis got tagged running from first for the third out of the inning.

Eric Gagne took the mound for the Sox and the Angels made a valiant attempt not to go out scoreless, with Izturis hitting a double to right field, followed by Kendrick, who hit another high fly ball to right field, bringing Izturis in for the Angels only score of the game to that point. The Angels then hit a fly ball that was caught for the last out of the game.