MVP Lowell will leave ... fingerprints on Series title

Lowell played Sunday night in Game 4 as he played the entire postseason. Capping a 120-RBI season, Lowell led off the fifth with a double and scored Boston's second run of the evening. He led off the seventh with a homer to post Boston's third run of the evening.

"I think they picked a worthy guy," club president Larry Lucchino said of the MVP award. "He's contributed on and off the field all year, and I hope it continues.

"He is a leader, there's no doubt about it. His fingerprints are all over this clubhouse."

The count was 1-and-0 when Lowell homered, and he was working Aaron Cook's sinker as best he could.

"I just tried to get him to put it up a little," Lowell said. "I got my hands inside, I got through and I knew I hit it well."

The Red Sox have a decision to make because the "throw-in" in the Josh Beckett deal is eligible for free agency this winter. He sure played himself into a good position in 2007, and David Ortiz, for one, votes to bring him back to the Red Sox in '08.

"Hopefully, that happens," Ortiz said. "Hopefully. There's no way you can get rid of him. He did everything this year."