Red Sox one win away from World Series crown
Boston starter Jon Lester pitches a master class to lead his team to a 3-1 win against the St Louis Cardinals and a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series
Jon Lester pitched the Boston Red Sox within a whisker of yet another World Series championship.
Lester got the better of Adam Wainwright once again and journeyman David Ross hit a tiebreaking double in the seventh inning as the Red Sox downed the St Louis Cardinals 3-1 on Monday night to take a 3-2 series edge.
David Ortiz delivered his latest big hit, too, sending this bearded band of Red Sox back to Fenway Park with a chance to clinch their third crown in a decade. Not since 1918 have Boston won the title at their own ballpark.
“The fact is we’re going home,” manager John Farrell said. “Going back to a place that our guys love to play in, in front of our fans.”
“This atmosphere here, these three games, has been phenomenal. We know it’s going to be equal to that, if not better. And we’re excited about going home in the position we are,” he said.
Ortiz enjoyed even more success in game five after moving up from clean-up to the third slot. He is 11 for 15 (.733) in this series with two homers, six RBIs and four walks. He left after legging out a hit, and Farrell said the slugger was OK.