The Boston Red Sox faithful can breath easy. The Boston Red Sox are World Series champions for the eighth time in franchise history. For the third time in the past 10 seasons. And for the first time since 1918, the Red Sox clinched the championship at Fenway Park.
After turning in their first losing season since 1997 and worst overall season since 1965 just one year ago, Boston turned in a phenomenal season in 2013, grabbing the AL East Division title and posting the best record (97-65) in the American League.
Perhaps more impressive was the fact that the Red Sox became just the 11th team in MLB history to finish first in their division after previously finishing last the year before.
Boston had a tall order heading into St. Louis for Games 3 through 5, but were successful in that endeavor, besting the Cardinals (one of the strongest teams to face on the road during the regular season) at home in two of three games.
The Red Sox would come home for Game 6 and turn in a strong performance, grabbing the 6-1 victory and the series victory in the process.
All was quiet until the bottom of the third inning, as Shane Victorino would deliver a three-run double to deep left field, scoring Jacoby Ellsbury, David Ortiz, and Jonny Gomes and giving Boston the early 3-0 lead.
Boston would add three more runs in the following inning, all of which was started by a solo shot by Stephen Drew to right center. Ellsbury would follow with a double and Ortiz would be intentionally walked, allowing Mike Napoli to grab an RBI single that would plate Ellsbury.
Following a walk by Gomes, Victorino would single to left, grabbing his fourth RBI on the night and scoring Ortiz for Boston’s sixth run of the night.
All the while, Boston starter John Lackey did exactly what he had to do on the night, hold the Cardinals’ offense at bay and lead the Red Sox to victory. Lackey did all that and then some.
Lackey worked 6 2/3 innings, surrendering just one run and striking out five batters, while walking just one. His only glaring blemish on the night was surrendering an RBI single to Carlos Beltran, scoring Daniel Descalso for the Cardinals’ only run of the night. However, all would be good as Lackey, with the help of Junichi Tazawa, would get out of the seventh without any further damage.
Koji Uehara would come in to shut down the game in the bottom of the ninth, retiring Jon Jay, Descalso, and Matt Carpenter in order to end the game and cement the series victory.
Brace yourself Bostonians for the long, yet well deserved celebration ahead.
