World Series wrap up
For the Red Sox faithful there was no doubt this would be the final game of the 2013 World Series. The team was confident from the moment they took the field.
For the first time in a long time, the St. Louis Cardinals looked tentative, unsure of themselves. As a result the Cards found they were over-matched and out-played. The Series was capped off with the awarding of the MVP trophy to, whom else — David “Big Papi” Ortiz.
(Photo from Red Sox Facebook page)
John Lackey was the Red Sox starter, the one Sox pitcher whose regular season record looks pretty average. And almost as if it was to be expected, the second inning looked like it was going to be painful for Boston. Yadier Molina and Allen Craig got on base, but Lackey got the next three batters, with a base-shifting wild pitch to spice up the inning.
Cardinals ace Michael Wacha let two Boston hitters get on base in the second inning, Jonny Gomes and Shane Victorino, but like Lackey Wacha was able to use his 95-mile per hour fastball to pitch his way out of the inning without a score.
Pitching like an ace, Lackey had a 1-2-3 inning in the third. In contrast, the bottom of the third was firestorm for Wacha.
Jacoby Ellsbury got on base and after Dustin Pedroia grounded out to third (sending Ellsbury to second), the Cards decided to walk Big Papi, David Ortiz.
Mike Napoli struck out, but Wacha hit Jonny Gomes with a pitch and that loaded up the bases for Shane Victorino, who then hit a double deep to center, getting the three runners home. The Sox were ahead, 3-0.
Xander Bogaerts lined out and the Cards were working from behind.
The bottom of the fourth was such a bloodbath for the Cards, they used three pitchers: Wacha, Lance Lynn and Seth Maness for the final out of the inning. But, the Red Sox still scored three more runs, starting with a leadoff homer by Steven Drew.
(Photo from Red Sox Facebook page)
The Red Sox wouldn’t score again, but it didn’t matter because the Cardinals would only produce one run in the game, when in the seventh inning Carlos Beltran got a single that sent Daniel Descalso across home plate.
The big star of the game — of the series — was David Ortiz. He was the hitter that made every other team squirm when he came to the plate. Walk or take a chance? His playoff ERA was over .700. Not his slugging percentage, his ERA. And he did a very credible job as a first baseman during the World Series.
So, it wasn’t a surprise to anyone that his team won the World Series, in six games, or that he, Big Papi, earned the title of Most Valuable Player.
It was a great series for baseball fans. The two most successful teams in the major leagues for the past dozen years got to square off and there was a general feeling this series would go at least six games and most likely seven. In fact, many people are still surprised the Cardinals seemed to have folded so much, especially in games five and six.
It was even better for Boston Red Sox fans. The Curse of the Bambino is over for good. This is the third World Series in 10 years for the Red Sox, after going 86 years without taking home the trophy.
Will the two best teams in Major League Baseball make it to the Big Show next year? Both are in good positions to do so. We look forward to 2014 to find out the answers.
Claudia is of Peruvian and Italian descent, having been born in a small town, in the North of Peru, South America. She was raised by her grandmother from an early age, living in poverty until Claudia’s mother brought her to America. She landed in Miami, FL and started her new life, playing high school basketball and eventually becoming a United States citizen. Claudia completed her education at Florida International University with a BA in Broadcast Journalism and became a model to supplement her income. Since graduating from FIU Claudia has worked with many of the Spanish Language broadcasting companies, including Telemundo, Univision and most recently Spanish Language channels on SiriusXM satellite radio and 93.9 FM Exitos in Los Angeles. Just so you know where her loyalty lies: Go Lakers!