Sports Then and Now

Jon Lester’s second masterful performance of the World Series has the Boston Red Sox needing just one win for their third title since 2004.

With the World Series tied at 2 games apiece, Jon Lester proved to the world that he is truly an ace, as the Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 in game five of the World Series, which gives Boston the 3-2 series lead.

Lester pitched 7 and two third innings, giving up just one run on four hits. The one run he let up was a home run to leftfielder Matt Holliday in the bottom of the 4th that tied the game at 1. Lester then retired 13 straight hitters before giving up a double to David Freese in the 8th inning, and was taken out after Pete Kozma flew out, and closer Koji Uehara shut the door with a 5 out save.

The Red Sox offense started early as they scored their first run in the first when Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz had back to back doubles to take a 1-0 lead. With the game tied at 1, the Red Sox took the lead for good in the top of the 7th when David Ross hit a ground rule double that scored Xander Bogaerts.

Ross’s ground rule double, may have stayed in the yard at Fenway, and had it not bounced into the stands, Bogaerts would have easily scored from first base. After Jon Lester struck out on a bunt foul, Jacoby Ellsbury, who is most likely playing in his final games with Boston, hit a bloop single into centerfield which scored Bogaerts. Ross tried to score on the play but was thrown out at the plated by Shane Robinson. The tag at the plate was close, but Yadier Molina was just able to tag Ross out.

The 2 runs in the 7th was all the Red Sox needed to beat the Cardinals, and all of their runs came off starter Adam Wainwright. Wainwright also pitched a great game, but he wasn’t able to match Lester. Wainwright pitched 7 innings giving up 8 hits and 3 runs. Despite striking out 10 batters in the game, he was charged with his 2nd loss of the World Series, as Lester got win number 2. Wainwright became the first played in World Series history to get charged with a loss when striking out 10.

Lester would be considered to be the World Series MVP if the Red Sox can finish the up series if it wasn’t for David Ortiz who is putting up historic numbers in this series. Ortiz is now 11-15 in the series after going 3 for 4 with a double and 2 singles. He is 2 hits away from breaking the record for most hits in a single World Series, and he’ll get that chance Wednesday night at Fenway Park.

It also impressive to think one of the four outs Ortiz has made was a grand slam that was robbed by Carlos Beltran in game 1, when Beltran reached over the wall in right field. If the Red Sox go on to win the series, Ortiz will most definitely be the World Series MVP.

Wednesday night the series shifts back to Boston, and the Red Sox have the ability to clinch the World Series at Fenway for the first time since 1918. If they are unable to win Wednesday night, they will still have a chance to win game 7 which would also be at Fenway. All they have to do is win one of the next 2 games, and if they do, they’ll will raise a new World Series banner at Fenway Park.