Red Sox rout Cardinals in World Series opener
Mike Napoli again leads the way as Boston record their ninth straight win in a World Series game, routing St Louis 8-1
An easy toss on a sure out that skittered away. A routine pop-up that somehow dropped between Gold Glovers. And something even more startling – umpires reversing a key call.
Mike Napoli hit a three-run double right after a game-changing decision in the very first inning, Jon Lester made the early lead stand up and the Boston Red Sox romped past the sloppy St Louis Cardinals 8-1 in the World Series opener on Wednesday night.
A season before Major League Baseball is expected to expand instant replay, fans got to see a preview. The entire six-man crew huddled and flipped a ruling on a forceout at second base – without looking at any video.
“I think based on their group conversation, surprisingly, to a certain extent, they overturned it and I think got the call right,” Boston manager John Farrell said.
Most everything went right for the Red Sox in their ninth straight World Series win.
David Ortiz was robbed of a grand slam by Carlos Beltran – a catch that sent the star rightfielder to a hospital with bruised ribs – but Big Papi later hit a two-run homer following third baseman David Freese’s bad throw.