Red Sox vs. Cardinals final score: Boston wins 2013 World Series with 6-1 victory
By Bryan Rose
After losing Game 2 of the 2013 World Series at home, the Boston Red Sox knew they’d have their work cut out for them as they made their way to Busch Stadium. Facing the second best home team in the regular season, the Red Sox took two of three in St. Louis against the Cardinals and put themselves in position to win not only their first World Series since 2007, but their first World Series win at Feway Park since 1918.
Of course, standing in their way was rookie Michael Wacha, who has been nothing but dominating for the St. Louis Cardinals during the 2013 postseason. Wacha, prior to the World Series, had thrown 21 innings of one run ball in three postseason starts and continued his solid play into Game 2, giving up two runs – both coming off a David Ortiz home run.
Unlike Game 2 and the rest of Wacha’s postseason though, the rookie simply wasn’t effective as he gave up six earned runs in just 3.2 innings of work. The Red Sox, who spent most of Game 2 behind in the count took a different approach in Game 6, swinging early, especially in regards to Wacha’s fastball which seemed to work as Boston had no trouble scoring runs.
A bases loaded double by Shane Victorino got things started in the bottom of the third inning, giving Boston a 3-0 lead. It’s a lead that would extend just an inning later as Stephen Drew hit a leadoff home run to start the fourth. That would be followed by RBI singles from both Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino, giving the Red Sox a commanding 6-0 lead.
It would be plenty enough for Boston’s starter John Lackey, who despite giving up nine hits in just 6.2 innings of work kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard.
St. Louis would not go down without a fight though as in the seventh inning, the Red Birds put forth a solid rally though could only scratch and claw their way to a single run despite loading the bases, cutting the deficit to 6-1.
That’s the best they could do against the Red Sox’s bullpen, who shut St. Louis down for the final two plus innings, ending the Cardinals impressive season.
The victory gives the Red Sox their seventh World Championship (eighth if you count the Boston Americans) and third in the past decade, the previous two coming in 2004 and 2007.
Congratulations Boston on your 2013 World Series Championship.