DENVER -- For several minutes, for half an inning, there was legitimate, breath-holding, hat-hanging drama in a World Series that previously had looked like a Boston Red Sox highlight film.

Then the Red Sox did what they've done all year: Their hitters bashed the opposing reliever and their own bullpen held steady. And when the dust settled after four hours and 19 minutes on the first World Series game ever held in Denver, the Red Sox emerged with a 10-5 win over the Colorado Rockies last night and a commanding 3-0 lead.

World Series Game 4

Red Sox@Rockies, tonight, 8:29, chs. 45, 5 Starters: Jon Lester (4-0) vs. Aaron Cook (8-7)

Schedule

Best of seven

Red Sox lead 3-0

Game 1: Boston 13, Colorado 1 Game 2: Boston 2, Colorado 1 Last night: Boston 10, Colorado 5 Today: Boston (Lester 4-0) at Colorado (Cook 8-7), 8:29 p.m. *Tomorrow: Boston at Colorado, 8:40 p.m. *Wednesday: Colorado at Boston, 8:29 p.m. *Thursday: Colorado at Boston, 8:20 p.m. *-If necessary TV: All games on chs. 45, 5