The Boston Red Sox made it easier than it appeared. They defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1, winning the 2013 World Series, the eighth in franchise history. It took some usual and usual heroes to capture this crown as the Red Sox cruised to victory at Fenway Park.
John Lackey powered the Red Sox as he pitched 6.2 innings of one-rn baseball despite running into threats throughout the game. He clearly outdueled Cardinals' rookie, Michael Wacha after giving a team to take the lead time and time again.
The Red Sox finally struck as their Game 6 hero from the ALCS, Shane Victorino once again took advantage of a bases loaded situation. Victorino sent a pitch from Wacha to the Green Monster, plating three runs in the third inning, giving the Red Sox a 3-0 lead as Jonny Gomes barely slid past Yadier Molina's tag at the plate.
An unusual hero was Stephen Drew. After getting a great swing in Game 5 and sending Carlos Beltran to the warning track, Drew got a hold of a good one, sending Beltran to the short fence in right field and hitting a home run. The bomb gave the Red Sox a 4-0 lead and it was clear that Wacha was not the same pitcher who dominated in the postseason.
Wacha only lasted 3.2 innings, allowing six earned runs on four walks, and five hits. Look at those numbers closely. They are so significant because in four combined playoff starts, Wacha had only allowed three earned runs. That is four games against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Red Sox. A pitcher is not supposed to dominate like that in the postseason, but Wacha did it and he is only 22 years old pitching in his first postseason.
The Red Sox won their first World Series in front of their fans since 1918. They clinched their third World Series in 10 years after spending 86 years without winning a championship.
