One Win Away

The Red Sox are a win away. John Lester and Adam Wainwright pulled out two great games, but ultimately it was Lester that would prevail. This game lacked the excitement as Games 3 and 4 had, but it was still great to watch. At times you wondered “Will David Ortiz ever get out?”, “Will Adam Wainwright strike out all 27?”, “Can the Cardinals come back and rattle Lester?”

Ok, the one with Wainwright striking out all 27 is just silly. But honestly, I was surprised that Ortiz only went 3-for-4, and at times it really looked like the Cardinals would end Lester’s bid for becoming one of the greatest pitchers in the postseason.

Runs were scored in the 1^st, 4^th, and 7^th. In the 1^st inning, Wainwright strikes out Jacoby Ellsbury looking at the beginning of the game, and Wainwright looked good. It was a great sign for the Cards, that they had their real ace tonight, and they wouldn’t deal with another Game 1 performance.

But then we speak too soon. Two doubles by Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz right after the K now put the Red Sox up 1-0. Now you start to think that we’re going to see the Game 1 Wainwright.

By the way, Ortiz came out saying that he is just good in October, that it’s “his time of the year.” He’s now batting .733 in the World Series, and now boasts a .476 average over three World Series appearances. Jeez.

Wainwright was able to calm down, and was able to strike out the next five batters he faced. This is where I laughed and said “Watch him get 27 strikeouts.” He calmed down in striking out batters, but still managed to pitch five more scoreless innings after the 1^st.

While he is performing like he should, the Cardinals strike in the 4^th. Matt Holliday bombs one into center field, and the game is tied. It’s his second of the World Series, and he is the only player to have hit one for St. Louis.

Carlos Beltran wanted part of the action too, so he drives one that looked like it would be gone in an instant. However, the big Busch Stadium kept it in the park, and instead of back-to-back, Jonny Gomes is able to catch it on the warning track.

Instead of a 2-1 Cards lead, it’s now just tied, and there are two outs. I still think Lester was a bit shaken up after Beltran though, and he got some help from his defense. 

The play of the night had to go to SS Stephen Drew who, despite a terrible postseason batting average this year, has made some HUGE defensive plays for Boston. As Yadier Molina steps up to the plate, he lines one that looks like a single or even a double into the gap, but Drew leaps up and catches it. It was incredible.

I’ve come to notice that in almost every postseason series, there’s always one player that nobody notices at first, then he does something miraculous, then everyone goes nuts. Last year in the ALCS, it wasn’t Miguel Cabrera or Prince Fielder who stepped up, it was Delmon Young. In the NLCS that year, it wasn’t Buster Posey, it was Marco Scutaro. In last year’s World Series, Pablo Sandoval hit three home runs in one game; he only hit 12 in the 2012 season.

Two nights ago, it was Jonny Gomes who came in the clutch. Last night, though Ortiz and Pedroia had their moments, it was David Ross, the catcher that played 30 games in the regular season, who came in the clutch.

You have to give huge props to rookie Xander Bogaerts. I love talking about him, and I think that he’s a future star. He collected two hits in last night’s game, both were up the middle ground balls. His second hit, an infield hit, begins the Red Sox rally, and brings up Stephen Drew. Remember, I mentioned that Drew has been hitting quite poorly so far, so what does he revert to? Walking.

And that’s exactly what he does. He draws the first and only walk in the game, and now it’s first and second with one out. Stepping in is Dave Ross.

I told you that Ross only played 30 games before. Well he, like Drew, is not a very good hitter either. But sometimes it’s the bottom of the order that prevails. Ross collected two hits in the game, his first one being the funniest, and his second one being the most important.

Why was his first hit hilarious? Because when he reached 1^st, he says to Red Sox first base coach Arnie Beyeler “Nice to meet you.” When asked about his hits to the press, Ross was surprised, admitting that he wasn’t a very good hitter.

All laughs aside, his second hit broke the game open. On a 2-2 pitch from Wainwright, Ross clubs a hanging curve down the left field line, and it would go into the stands for a double. It’s now 2-1 Boston, and they have men on 2^nd and 3^rd with two outs.

I think that both coaches pulled interesting moves after Ross. John Farrell decided to keep Lester in with a 2-1 lead and one out. Although the infield was moved in for the Cardinals, I think that was more of an intimidation effect. Lester previously failed on a bunt attempt earlier in the game, so they won’t squeeze.

Lester would end up grounding it right to Wainwright, and there are now two outs. They had to keep him in; he was pitching great, and had only 69 pitches so far. Keeping Lester in would prevail (see below).

Now here’s where I don’t like Mike Matheny’s play call. He decided to keep Wainwright it with the top of the order coming up. Ellsbury is the left-handed batter stepping up, and they have plenty of lefty relief if they need it. He decided to keep Wainwright in, and Ellsbury would bloop it into center for a base hit. A run scores, then Ross is out at a play at the plate.

3-1 Boston. Lester continues to fire, too. He would go 7 2/3 before giving the ball to their closer, Koji Uehara. This was another surprising move too by Farrell; instead of keeping the lefty Lester in against the lefty Matt Adams, he goes with the righty Uehara.

It didn’t matter. Uehara has a .115 BAA against lefties, and he struck out Adams on three pitches.

Lester would finish giving up only one run on four hits and struck out seven. He also made another great defensive play, just like the one he did against Detroit. This time, the victim was Pete Kozma.

Uehara would pitch a scoreless ninth, and would get the save. He now has six saves in the postseason, which ties for most in postseason history, and is one shy of Mariano Rivera for most postseason 4-out saves.

Jon Lester has the 5^th lowest career postseason ERA (minimum of 75 innings pitched) with a 2.11 ERA. That puts him up with guys like Mo Rivera, Christy Mathewson, and Bob Gibson.

It looks real good for Boston right now. They are going home, and look to clinch a World Series title at home since 1918.

They have to face the unhittable rookie Michael Wacha in Game 6, a pitcher that they lost to in Game 2. However, the Red Sox were able to get a two wins off Wainwright, two wins off Max Scherzer, a win off Justin Verlander, and a win off David Price. They are good against aces. The Cardinals, however, are 8-1 in postseason eliminating games since their recent surge.

If the Cardinals win Game 6, it’s ok for the Red Sox, but remember that they lost Game 3 too, and Game 7 would probably be a rematch of that game.

I like the Red Sox winning this series, but I think it’ll have to come in 7 Games. It’ll be John Lackey vs Michael Wacha in Game 6 tomorrow. Email me at statsbuddy42@gmail.com for any questions/comments/concerns.

-Evan Boyd