On Wednesday night, the 2013 World Series opened with the Boston Red Sox beating the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 by a score of 8-1. The Cardinals helped the Red Sox win the game with their lousy fielding. In the first inning, David Ortiz of the Red Sox grounded into what should have been an inning-ending double play, but Cardinals’ shortstop Pete Kozma dropped the ball at second base, enabling Dustin Pedroia and Ortiz to be safe at second base and first base, respectively. The next batter, Mike Napoli, doubled to center, clearing the bases, to give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead. Game over, in this postseason where run-scoring is at a premium.
The Cardinals didn’t stop after that, with their fielding woes. They had two more errors, before finally scoring in the top of the ninth inning, with a solo home run from Matt Holiday. By then the Red Sox already had 8 runs of their own, including Ortiz’ 2-run home run in the 7th inning. This isn’t a good start for the Cardinals. In addition to the poor fielding, and being routed by the Red Sox, 9 of the last 10 World Series Champions have won Game 1.
There was controversy about the Kozma error in the first inning. When the play happened, the umpire called Pedroia out, even though he had a clear view of Kozma dropping the ball. The call was reversed, but this obvious blown call goes right in line with all the poor umpiring that went on during this season. Amazingly, the Cardinals manager, Mike Matheny argued the reversed call, and some of the Cardinal players complained about it after the game.
Also, a Cardinals’ minor league pitcher, Tyler Melly, tweeted that Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester was using vaseline during the game. While there was a foreign substance seen on his glove, it was probably Bullfrog sunscreen, which allows a pitcher to get a better grip on the ball. Major League Baseball responded “we can not draw any conclusions from this video”. The Cardinals should worry more about fielding the ball properly , and scoring some runs, rather than the reversal of an obviously bad call, and whether an opposing pitcher has sunscreen on his glove.
Game 2 starts in a few hours in Boston. The Red Sox will send out starting pitcher John Lackey, while the Cardinals will have Michael Wacha, the Most Valuable Player of the National League Championship Series, starting for them. Games 3 and 4 will be in St. Louis, as well as Game 5, if necessary. If the series goes to Game 6 and 7, then it will be back in Boston.
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Sports With Frank Thomas