World Series has been entertaining

This World Series will be remembered for at least two historical plays: in the third game we saw the third baseman of the Red Sox called for obstructing the runner, allowing the runner to score and end the game with a win for the St. Louis Cardinals.

The obstruction that ended Game Three of the 2013 World Series with a win for the St. Louis Cardinals. Rd Sox third baseman Middlebrooks fell and in the process tripped Craig of the Cardinals, clearly obstructing the runner's ability to try and score. (Photo is a screen grab from Youtube)
The obstruction that ended Game Three of the 2013 World Series with a win for the St. Louis Cardinals. Rd Sox third baseman Middlebrooks fell and in the process tripped Craig of the Cardinals, clearly obstructing the runner’s ability to try and score.
(Photo is a screen grab from Youtube)

The fourth game ended when the Red Sox pitcher picked off a runner who was trying to get back to first base after a pop -up fly that was caught in the infield, giving the Red Sox the win and tying the series at two games a piece.

If the Red Sox lose the World Series you know Sox fans will be talking about the obstruction play for decades, just like they did when Bill Buckner let that ball dribble through his legs in Game Six of the 1986 World Series. The Sox lost the series to the New York Mets and a tale of never-ending woe was born forever.

Compared to games three and four, games one and two ended pretty well, or at least without controversy or history-making plays.

For pitching, Felix Doubront, John Lackey and Clay Buchholz helped the Red Sox to survive the regular season and now they are putting their team in a position to win it all.

Another oddity of this World Series: Jonny Gomes hit a decisive three-run homer in Game Four when was not even formally in the lineup.

About 75 minutes before game time Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino still could not play due to back pain, so Gomes was given the start and he hit the tiebreaking shot off reliever Seth Maness in the sixth inning.

Jonny Gomes went from riding the bench to being one of the game’s heroes all because of his teammate’s injury.

The pickoff play. Red Sox closer Koju Uehara has Cardinals power hitter Carlos Beltran at the plate and rookie pinch-runner Kolten Wong at first base. It was the bottom of the ninth and two outs. Beltran had to hit a homerun if the Cards were going to win the game. Wong did not need to lead off at all, let alone try and steal second, but that's what he was doing when Uehara picked him off first base. It was a first for a post season game. (Photo is screen grab from Youtube video)
The pickoff play. Red Sox closer Koju Uehara has Cardinals power hitter Carlos Beltran at the plate and rookie pinch-runner Kolten Wong at first base. It was the bottom of the ninth and two outs. Beltran had to hit a homerun if the Cards were going to win the game. Wong did not need to lead off at all, let alone try and steal second, but that’s what he was doing when Uehara picked him off first base. It was a first for a post season game.
(Photo is screen grab from Youtube video)

Baseball can be a funny game and this World Series has been very entertaining.

After Game Four Carlos Beltran spoke about the historic play that ended the game, when Red Sox closer Koji Uehara picked off rookie pinch-runner Kolten Wong at first base for the final out — with postseason star Beltran standing at the plate. “I feel bad for the guy. I know he is trying to steal a base, or get in a position where he can score,” Beltran said. “But the best way for us to erase it is to come [back] tomorrow and get a win.”

Wong’s eyes were red with tears when he spoke after the game

“I just got a little off the base. I wanted to go back and my foot slipped on me. … I just got too far off and he (Uehara) made a good throw.”

Of the 1,404 postseason games in major league history, none had ended with an obstruction call or with a pick off play by the pitcher. Already this is a World Series of firsts.

Game Five will be tonight at Busch Stadium, with left-hander Jon Lester of Boston against Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals in a rematch of the first game, when the Red Sox were victorious 8-1.

This entertaining World Series was tied at two games each after the Red Sox beat the Cardinals 4-2 on Sunday, which means the title will be decided back at Fenway Park.

Game five was the game the Cardinals had to win if they were going to take the World Series trophy back to St. Louis. The last game to be played in Busch Memorial Stadium in this series, winning Monday Night meant they only had to win one game at Fenway Park in Boston, a feat they accomplished when the series started.

Big Papi — David Ortiz — should be the World Series MVP, whether the Red Sox win or not. Without him the Sox would have lost the series by now. (Photo is a screen grab from Youtube video)
Big Papi — David Ortiz — should be the World Series MVP, whether the Red Sox win or not. Without him the Sox would have lost the series by now.
(Photo is a screen grab from Youtube video)

Boston scored in the first inning when David Ortiz doubled, sending Dustin Pedroia across home plate. Ortiz just might be the MVP of the series. His batting average for the World Series is an incredible .733. In one stretch he reached base in nine consecutive at bats. The Sox are leading in this series because of David Ortiz. The combined batting average of his teammates is a dismal .144. The Red Sox do not win this series without Big Papi.

After the first inning the pitchers controlled the game until the fourth inning when Matt Holliday hit a solo homerun to tie the game. The St. Louis fans thought this was the beginning of another Cardinals comeback.

But in the top of the seventh, the Red Sox scored again, getting two runs home before a force out at home plate to end the inning.

That’s where the score remained, 3-1 for the Red Sox and the Cardinals are now looking at elimination.

With only two scheduled games left in this baseball season, the Red Sox have the luxury of only needing one more win to claim the World Series, and both of these games will be in their home — Fenway Park.

For the Cardinals it is a nearly impossible task: win two road games in Fenway Park. If they win Game Six they will have to win Game Seven and the odds of that are astronomical. To say it doesn’t look good for the Cards is an understatement.

Our reporter in Boston and St. Louis, Claudia Gestro, is also reporting for PasTV in Venezuela. (Photo is screen grab from Youtube video)
Our reporter in Boston and St. Louis, Claudia Gestro, is also reporting for PasTV in Venezuela.
(Photo is screen grab from Youtube video)

For the Red Sox, they would like to keep it a six game series and end it tonight, in front of the hometown fans. One thing a lot of other teams have learned in this season and years past: if there is any team in Major League Baseball that can beat the odds it’s the St. Louis Cardinals.

Just because they are home doesn’t mean the Red Sox are assured of winning the World Series, but it sure looks good for them.

Game time tonight is 8:07 pm. Eastern time. This could be the last game of a very entertaining World Series.