By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com

Mike Timlin tossed three hitless innings of relief in Game 3. (Charles Krupa/AP)

Mike Timlin and Scott Williamson made sure that Oakland didn't have the same luxury.

Timlin and Williamson combined for four perfect innings of relief and proved to be key components in the Red Sox's 3-1 victory in extra innings against the A's on Saturday in Game 3 of the ALDS. Trot Nixon hit a two-run homer to win the game in the bottom half of the 11th inning.

"We've done a lot of talking about the bullpen since Opening Day this year," Red Sox manager Grady Little said. "Tonight, we were awfully proud of what they did. Timlin did great, and then Williamson did a great job in the last inning. It was outstanding."

Lowe allowed six hits and one run in seven innings. He struck out two batters and walked two others.

Enter Timlin and eventually Williamson.

Exit Oakland base hits.

	Mike Timlin   /   P
			Height: 6'4" Weight: 210 Bats/Throws: R/R More info: Player page Stats Splits redsox.com

"I just wanted to have a chance to help. That's mainly what a reliever wants to do," Timlin said. "You go in and try to put a zero on the board and get your hitters back up as soon as possible."

Timlin fanned three of the nine batters he faced in his three innings of work. Williamson struck out two of the three batters he faced in the 11th inning to earn the victory.

"To come in as a reliever like that and throw up three zeroes in the playoffs is tremendous," Williamson said. "That's a hero right there in Mike. Trot was a hero, too, but you really have to look at what Timlin did and what Lowe did. They kept us in the ballgame a long time and I was fortunate to get the win, but other than that, those two guys did an unbelievable job."

Timlin traded compliments with his bullpen buddy, equally impressed with Williamson's performance. He said he had a feeling this would be a good night, not only for himself, but for the team as well.

He was right.

"Scott threw the ball awesome," Timlin said. "I am so proud of him throwing the ball the way he did. He was very aggressive and he threw it like I have seen him many times before. For me, I was just trying to throw strikes and get guys out.

"I'm happy God gave me the chance and the strength to go out there and pitch the way I pitched. All the praise goes to Him, not me. I'm just the vehicle."

Although Timlin said he was proud of the night's events, he knows the series is far from over. When he gets on the mound again, he'll try to do the same thing he did on Saturday -- perhaps even better.

"I've been trying to be pretty consistent and this kind of roll is what I've been trying to do all year," he said. "I hope we can take what we got tonight and carry it over tomorrow. I know we are going to battle and we want to win. Hopefully, we can do that."

Jesse Sanchez is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.