Red Sox clinch World Series title
After striking out Cardinals’ final batter Matt Carpenter, Boston Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara leaps into the arms of catcher David Ross as the Red Sox win the World Series Championship. Photo courtesy of Rob Carr/Getty Images
For the first time since 1918, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series at their home stadium Fenway Park. Although the Sox picked up World Series wins in 2004 and 2007, this year’s victory marked the first time in 95 years that the Sox won on their home field.
The Series began and ended with a Red Sox victory in Fenway Park. Boston’s bearded players were on top of the series Wednesday night, October 30, with a 3-2 lead over the Cardinals. The Cardinals hoped to retie the series and make it 3-3, but the power that radiated from Boston sluggers David Ortiz, Shane Victorino, Jonny Gomes and Dustin Pedroia helped the Sox take home the victory title.
Both St. Louis and Boston had their fans on their toes since Game 1 of the Series October 23. Although the Red Sox won by seven runs in the first game, the Cardinals rebounded and were victorious in both Games 2 and 3.
Game 3 was the source of much controversy after the umpires’ obstruction call, which resulted in a St. Louis win. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Red Sox player Saltalamacchia overthrew a pass to third baseman Will Middlebrooks, who dove to try and grab the ball. St. Louis’ base runner Allen Craig tripped over a sprawling Middlebrooks and thus was slowed in his sprint to home. Umpires deemed this play an obstruction, and it was the first World Series game in history to end with such a call.
“Tough way to have a game end, particularly of this significance, when Will [Middlebrooks] is trying to dive inside to stop the throw. I don’t know how he gets out of the way when he’s lying on the ground,” Boston Red Sox Manager John Farrell said in a post game press conference in St. Louis.
“And when Craig trips over him, I guess by the letter of the rule you could say it’s obstruction. Like I said, that’s a tough pill to swallow.”
After the chaotic end of Game 3, the Sox came back to win Game 4 and Game 5, which gave them a two game advantage over the Cardinals in St. Louis. During a travel day Tuesday, both teams voyaged back to Boston where the Series title was on the line as the Red Sox needed one more game to win the title.
Boston’s John Lackey faced off against Cardinals’ Michael Wacha for Game 6 at Fenway. Outfielder Shane Victorino tallied three runs for the Sox with a three-run-double in the third inning, and an RBI single in the fourth. Another high for the Sox was when center-fielder Jacoby Ellsbury successfully ousted a rundown between the Cardinals’ second and first basemen to save his spot on first. Fenway erupted into cheers as Ellsbury slid back to the base.
Game 6 ended with the final strikeout from Cardinals’ second baseman Matt Carpenter, who kept the MVP pitcher of the American League Championship Series, Koji Uehara, working as he led a 3-2 count in the bottom of the ninth. It was Uehara who made the last out for the Sox, and this final strike initiated the Boston celebration.
Uehara jumped into the arms of catcher David Ross after the strikeout. Fans cheered and Yawkey Way, outside of Fenway Park, turned into a parade as the World Series came to a close.
Designated Hitter for the Red Sox, David Ortiz, was named MVP for the World Series based on his .688 batting average of the six games. This was the second highest in the category’s history. He is also the third oldest player to be named MVP.
“I know I’m one of the forces for this ballgame and I like to take things personal,” Ortiz said in a postgame interview, according to ESPN Boston. “And that’s been my whole career, a challenge.”
Ortiz also mentioned the impact that this season made on Boston society after the marathon tragedy of April 2013. Donning a “Boston Strong” shirt, the designated hitter raised the cheers of the crowd after commenting on the importance of Boston pride.
“This jersey, that we wear today, it doesn’t say ‘Red Sox.’ It says ‘Boston,’” Ortiz said according to CNN.
Boston’s win at Fenway Park is a historic triumph, closing a 95-year gap between the last series victory at the Boston ballpark in 1918. With the “Boston Strong” slogan etched into the field, this victory for the Sox will remain with Bostonians and fans across the nation.
– Sarah Jackmauh, Co-Features Editor
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/st-louis-cardinals-botch-world-series-game-6-pickle-play-run-down-boston-red-sox-jacoby-ellsbury-kevin-siegrist-103013
http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/30/sport/world-series-game-6/
http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/9905733/2013-world-series-david-ortiz-boston-red-sox-named-mvp
