Cardinals return home, World Series even 1-1
ST. LOUIS -- The World Series shifts to St. Louis and the Red Sox left Fenway Park on Thursday night feeling unfulfilled.
The Red Sox wound up splitting the first two games of the series at home after the St. Louis Cardinals rallied with three runs in the seven inning for a 4-2 win in Game 2. That evened the best-of-seven series at one game apiece.
After a travel day Friday and afternoon workout at Busch Stadium, the series resumes Saturday night with Game 3 -- Jake Peavy (12-5, 4.17 regular season; 0-1, 8.31 postseason) pitches for the Red Sox against Joe Kelly (10-5, 2.69; 0-1, 4.41).
"Just losing the game is frustrating, for sure," Game 2 losing pitcher John Lackey said. "We played a pretty good game and kind of let it get away but we'll come back the next game and try it again."
David Ortiz gave the Red Sox a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when he homered off rookie right-hander Michael Wacha.
However, the Cardinals answered with three runs in a sloppy seventh inning for the Red Sox. Boston made two errors on one play, one by catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and another by left-handed reliever Craig Breslow.
"I thought with the exception of one inning, we played very well in the two games here," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Unfortunately, we gave them some runs tonight."
The Red Sox will look to Peavy to put them back on top in the series but they may not be the most comforting feeling. He has a horrid postseason history, going 0-3 with a 10.31 ERA in four starts.
Kelly hasn't won in three postseason starts this year and is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA in 10 career postseason games, including three stats.
"Excited to get home. I know everybody is," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "These last couple of days, to our guys, it meant a lot to be able to play here in Fenway. It's a pretty unique experience for a lot of guys that have never played here before to be able to do it in this stage. And we're happy to leave here with a split."
Rookie right-hander Michael Wacha actually proved to be human -- at least, a little bit -- in Game 2.
Wacha allowed just the two runs in six innings along with just three hits while striking out six. However, he also walked four.
"It's the World Series, big-time game, so I just tried to use it to my advantage to go out and pitch with some adrenaline, and just try to block out the fans and the crowd," Wacha said. "I didn't have my best stuff. Definitely a little bit more wild. Didn't have the command."
Nor do the Red Sox, who missed out on the opportunity to land in MIssouri with 2-0 series lead.
