The Boston Red Sox took advantage of several early miscues by the St. Louis Cardinals, and they received a masterful performance from starting pitcher Jon Lester en route to an 8-1 victory in Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday.
Cardinals vs. Red Sox, 2013 World Series Game 1 final score: Boston routs St. Louis, 8-1
The Cardinals did not look like themselves, particularly in the first couple of innings, in Game 1 against the Red Sox.
Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma committed a pair of costly errors, including a missed catch on the front half of what might have been an inning-ending double play grounder hit by David Ortiz in the first. Second base umpire Dana DeMuth initially ruled that Kozma lost the ball on the transition, but the crew held a brief meeting and changed the call.
Mike Napoli made Kozma and the Cardinals pay for the gaffe by depositing a cutter from Adam Wainwright into left-center field for a bases-clearing double, giving Boston an early three-run lead.
An inning later, Wainwright and Yadier Molina allowed a harmless pop up off the bat of Stephen Drew fall between them in front of the mound. Three batters later, Kozma's second error loaded the bases, and the Red Sox added a couple more runs -- although it could have been more, if not for Carlos Beltran's catch to rob Ortiz of a grand slam.
Beltran was injured on the play and left the game prior to taking the field in the third inning. He was taken to a Boston-area hospital for further evaluation.
Ortiz eventually got his home run -- although, it wasn’t as dramatic -- in the seventh inning, a two-run shot off of Cardinals reliever Kevin Siegrist.
The Cardinals had a pair of similar scoring chances against Lester but were unable to capitalize. St. Louis loaded the bases in the fourth, but Lester fielded a one-out comebacker from David Freese and started a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning.
An inning later, singles by Shane Robinson and Matt Carpenter resulted in a two-on, two-out situation. Lester got out of the jam by inducing a ground out off the bat of Jon Jay.
The 29-year-old left-hander lasted 7⅔ scoreless innings and registered eight strikeouts. Wainwright was done after five innings, surrendering five runs -- three earned -- on six hits.
Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday spoiled Boston's shutout attempt with a solo home run off Ryan Dempster in the top of the ninth inning.
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