Thursday, October 31, 2013

2013 World Series Game 6: Red Sox Win, Third World Series Title In 10 Seasons!

Hello,

This will be my last baseball blog for the 2013 season, unless something happens that is quite dramatic. I know we still have the MVP and Cy Young and other awards to be announced.

On Wednesday, October 30, 2013 the Red Sox were able to close out the Cardinals and win their third World Series in 10 years.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals they were stuck for 7 hours on the runway before they were able to fly to Boston Wednesday night. They arrived in Boston about 11:00 pm on Wednesday night. From what I've read the Cardinals players and others on the plane took the delay in stride. They had an incredibly good attitude about their circumstances. And I agree with David Ortiz who hoped the Cardinals were able to get to Boston safe. They did, which is the most important thing, and the World Series is able to go on.

The scheduled pitching match up was the Cardinals sending the excellent rookie pitcher Michael Wacha vs. the Red Sox crafty veteran John Lackey. This was a rematch of Game 2, the Cardinals and Wacha won the Game 2 battle.

This is from my blog a couple of days ago: As what happened in the Red Sox-Tigers ALCS happened in the World Series. In both series the Tigers and Cardinals won one of the first two games in Boston. The Red Sox went to both Detroit and St. Louis and returned the favor, stealing two of three games. In both series the Red Sox came back to Boston with a 3-2 lead. Will the similarities continue in the World Series? Game 6 of the ALCS Shane Victorino hit a grand slam that gave the Red Sox the AL pennant. Would Boston be able to end the World Series in Game 6 Wednesday night? Would Victorino be able to play again after missing the last couple of games due to his balky back?

Yes, Shane Victorino was able to play again. And as in Game 6 of the ALCS he ended up being the hero. Victorino had a bases loaded double in the 3rd inning, a double that drove in Jacoby Ellsbury, David Ortiz and Jonny Gomes. (Please don't say it's true Boston and Jacoby that you both are considering a split.)

In the 4th inning Stephen Drew hit a solo homer and Mike Napoli singled to drive in Ellsbury again and Victorino came up again with the bases loaded. This time he singled and drove in Ortiz. However after that the Red Sox were able to do any further damage and wouldn't score any more than the 6 runs they had scored at that time. Later the Cardinals scored a meaningless run as Boston won 6-1.

Boston won the World Series 4-2 in games, they are also the first team this postseason to figure out the sensational rookie Michael Wacha. I had been waiting for a game the Red Sox offense would explode and this was the game. They did it against Wacha, who had been so good this postseason. Wacha lasted 3.2 innings, allowing 5 hits, 6 runs and 4 walks. Because of this game his World Series ERA increased from 3.00 to 7.45. Wacha finished 4-1 in the post season, but only 1-1 in the World Series. Although to be fair he was bound to have a bad game. He will have many great seasons going forward, I predict this isn't his last World Series.

John Lackey capped off a season of resurgence by going 1-1 this World Series. He didn't pitch particualary well, but did hold the Cardinals to only one run. Lackey pitched 6.2 innings and gave up 9 hits. His World Series ERA ends up 2.57.

Koji Uehara finished his dream season with a World Series title, two saves and a 0.00 ERA. He also closed out the Cardinals in Game 6.

World Series MVP David Ortiz was 0 for 1 in Game 6, although he was walked 4 times in this game. He finished the World Series with a .688 batting average, finishing an incredible 11 for 16. In this World Series Ortiz hit two homers, had 6 RBIs and was walked 8 times. Even more importantly I do believe he got in the heads of the Cardinals. He finished with a .760 on base percentage, which is the second best OBP in World Series history.

I suggest this World Series proves that he's the number one clutch hitter of his generation and earns him a place in the Hall of Fame.

themusicaddict

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