John Perrotto, Special for USA TODAY Sports 9:51 p.m. EDT October 30, 2013
Michael Wacha had allowed 3 runs in his first 29 postseason innings. He's now allowed 6 runs in Game 6.(Photo: Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports)
[h=3]Story Highlights[/h]
BOSTON – Shane Victorino returned to the Boston Red Sox's lineup in a big way Wednesday night and put his team on the brink of a world championship.
The right fielder hit a three-run double off St. Louis Cardinals rookie sensation Michael Wacha – who had given up three runs during the entire the postseason to that point -- in the third inning to open the scoring and added an RBI single in a three-run fourth as the Red Sox took a 6-0 lead after four innings in Game 6 of the World Series at Fenway Park.
BOX SCORE: Red Sox 6, Cardinals 0
The Red Sox lead 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.
VICTORINO: Red Sox outfielder hits big double
Victorino had missed the previous two games with lower back stiffness. Manager John Farrell also dropped Victorino, who was 0-for-10 in the series coming into Tuesday, to No. 6 in the batting order from his usual No. 2 slot.
During a postseason in which he won all four of his starts while posting a 1.00 ERA, the 22-year-old Wacha finally ran out of magic as he gave up six runs in 3 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and four walks while striking out five.
Jacoby Ellsbury led off the third with a single and moved to second on Dustin Pedroia's ground out. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny decided to intentionally walk David Ortiz, who was 11-for-15 in the series at that point, to pitch to cleanup hitter Mike Napoli.
Wacha struck out Napoli but then hit Jonny Gomes with a pitch. That loaded the bases for Victorino, who lined his double off the Green Monster in left field.
Walking Ortiz backfired again an inning later as the Red Sox scored three more runs to make it 6-0.
Stephen Drew, who was 2-for-18 in the series, hit a solo home run and Napoli delivered an RBI single after the Cardinals put Ortiz on before Victorino singled in a run with the bases loaded off reliever Lance Lynn.
The Red Sox were five innings away from beating the Cardinals to the distinction of being the first team in this century to win three World Series titles. The Red Sox also won 2004 and 2007 while the Cardinals won in 2006 and 2011.
GALLERY: GAME 6
Autoplay
Show Thumbnails
Show Captions
Last SlideNext Slide
Michael Wacha had allowed 3 runs in his first 29 postseason innings. He's now allowed 6 runs in Game 6.(Photo: Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports)
[h=3]Story Highlights[/h]
- The Red Sox are a win away from a World Series championship
- Victorino hit a three-run double in the third inning
- Michael Wacha had allowed 3 runs in his first 29 postseason innings. He's now allowed 6 runs in Game 6
BOSTON – Shane Victorino returned to the Boston Red Sox's lineup in a big way Wednesday night and put his team on the brink of a world championship.
The right fielder hit a three-run double off St. Louis Cardinals rookie sensation Michael Wacha – who had given up three runs during the entire the postseason to that point -- in the third inning to open the scoring and added an RBI single in a three-run fourth as the Red Sox took a 6-0 lead after four innings in Game 6 of the World Series at Fenway Park.
BOX SCORE: Red Sox 6, Cardinals 0
The Red Sox lead 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.
VICTORINO: Red Sox outfielder hits big double
Victorino had missed the previous two games with lower back stiffness. Manager John Farrell also dropped Victorino, who was 0-for-10 in the series coming into Tuesday, to No. 6 in the batting order from his usual No. 2 slot.
During a postseason in which he won all four of his starts while posting a 1.00 ERA, the 22-year-old Wacha finally ran out of magic as he gave up six runs in 3 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and four walks while striking out five.
Jacoby Ellsbury led off the third with a single and moved to second on Dustin Pedroia's ground out. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny decided to intentionally walk David Ortiz, who was 11-for-15 in the series at that point, to pitch to cleanup hitter Mike Napoli.
Wacha struck out Napoli but then hit Jonny Gomes with a pitch. That loaded the bases for Victorino, who lined his double off the Green Monster in left field.
Walking Ortiz backfired again an inning later as the Red Sox scored three more runs to make it 6-0.
Stephen Drew, who was 2-for-18 in the series, hit a solo home run and Napoli delivered an RBI single after the Cardinals put Ortiz on before Victorino singled in a run with the bases loaded off reliever Lance Lynn.
The Red Sox were five innings away from beating the Cardinals to the distinction of being the first team in this century to win three World Series titles. The Red Sox also won 2004 and 2007 while the Cardinals won in 2006 and 2011.
GALLERY: GAME 6
Autoplay
Show Thumbnails
Show Captions
Last SlideNext Slide