He walked Matt Holliday to load the bases, but the steady Junichi Tazawa came on and got the hobbled Allen Craig to bounce out – the Cards biggest threat of the game was over. When Lackey ran into trouble in the seventh inning, manager John Farrell came out to get his man, but to the fans' delight, he was rebuffed by Lackey, who won the right to face one more batter. He deserved it, keeping the Cardinals lineup at bay for 6⅔ innings, allowing a single run despite allowing nine hits. Lackey's 2013 turnaround was emblematic of the changes at Fenway this season, and in the seventh inning he left to a standing ovation to the tune of Can't Take My Eyes off You by Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons, a scene unimaginable just months ago. Victorino had already become a cult hero in Boston thanks to his timely grand slam home run in Game Six of the American League Championship Series against the Tigers, elevated his status another notch, giving his team a 6-0 lead.įrom there, the game was in the hands of pitcher John Lackey. One of the many wonders of this Boston season is the 35-year-old hurler, a pitcher way who was way down in the Sox fan dog house after his role in the 2011 September collapse, and then out all last season after Tommy John surgery. Victorino was one of the players who brought a fresh attitude to the clubhouse when the team was overhauled in the offseason after losing 93 games last season and finishing last in its division. Then Victorino returned to the batters-box. The 32-year-old had missed the previous two games with back issues, came through again, dumping a base-hit to left field, driving in his fourth run of the game. Mike Napoli – forced to sit on the bench in the three games in St Louis, a victim of the National League rules, to allow designated hitter Ortiz to play first base – made up for lost time and delivered a run scoring single. Lance Lynn came on in relief and fared no better. That was all for Wacha – the 22-year old pitching beyond his years had finally succumbed to Boston's bats and in the biggest of spots. After Dustin Pedroia flied out, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny elected to walk Ortiz, who wasn't allowed to swing his scorching hot bat. Moments later Ellsbury nearly put another over the wall in right, settling for a double. Stephen Drew saved his fifth hit of the postseason for a big occasion – his home run over the bullpen in right field added to Wacha's nightmare in the fourth inning. It wouldn't be the last time the crowd would salute the Hawaiian in Game Six. Victorino pumped his first at second base as Fenway roared. With the Cards starting pitcher uncharacteristically fighting command issues, and the Fenway crowd serenading the rookie to the tune of "Wacha…Wacha…." the pitcher allowed a bases loaded double to Shane Victorino off the green monster in left field, bringing home Jacoby Ellsbury, David Ortiz and Jonny Gomes. The festivities began in the third inning when the home team did something the Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers and these same Red Sox couldn't do until Game Six – get to Michael Wacha. ![]() The Cardinals didn't dare pitch to Big Papi, whose historic hitting run nearly singlehandedly saved Boston throughout the Fall Classic, and propelled their lineup all year long. David Ortiz capped his MVP performance by reaching base four times in five plate appearances, all on walks.
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