The Boston Red Sox scored two important runs in the top of the eighth, evening the score with the St. Louis Cardinals at 4-4 heading into the bottom of the eighth.
World Series Game 3, Red Sox vs. Cardinals score update: Xander Bogaerts ties game with two-out single
The Boston rookie delivered in the top of the eighth with a two-out, RBI single.
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Carlos Martinez relieved Kevin Siegrist to start the inning, facing the top of the Red Sox order. Jacoby Ellsbury led off the inning with a single, then Martinez drilled Shane Victorino with a two-strike slider, putting two runners on with nobody out.
Victorino has been plunked by seven pitches this season, the most hit-by-pitches during a single postseason. Sam Miller of Baseball Prospectus compared that number to his regular season hit-by-pitch numbers:
Victorino HBP 2009: 6 2010: 7 2011: 6 2012: 6 2013 postseason: 7
— Sam Miller (@SamMillerBP) October 27, 2013
Dustin Pedroia hit a groundout for the first out of the inning, but advanced both runners. Martinez then issued an intentional walk to David Ortiz, loading the bases for Daniel Nava. Mike Matheny pulled Martinez after the intentional walk, bringing in closer Trevor Rosenthal.
Nava hit a one-hopper right at Kolten Wong, who had just come in as a defensive replacement. Wong made an impressive play, smothering the ball and forcing the runner out at second base:
Nava beat out the double play, allowing Ellsbury to score from third to cut the lead to one. Xander Bogaerts followed with a single up the middle, hitting a bouncer that Pete Kozma could not handle, plating the tying run:
Kozma likely had no play on Bogaerts even if he fielded the ball cleanly, but his misplay let Nava advance to third. Rosenthal recovered after the play, recording a Jarrod Saltalamacchia groundout to end the inning.
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