Red Sox 8, Cards 1

The tough St. Louis Cardinals got off to a very poor start in game 1 of the World Series. Tight. Choke. Scared. I don't know the right word, but the visitors were bad in all phases of the game - offense, defense, pitching. Adam Wainwright was bad. The entire Cards infield was bad. The exclamation point was a pop-up that landed between Wainwright & Molina as each looked at each other. A big reversal of fortune in the 1st inning by the 6 umpires who overturned a dumb out call at 2nd base. That helped Mike Napoli clear the bases on a double to left center. Even Big Papi motored from 1st to home! A nice catch by Carlos Beltran to save a grand slam by Ortiz in the 2nd resulted in Beltran leaving the game with sore ribs. No problem, though, as Big Papi blasted a 2-run shot in the 7th for good measure. Jon Lester was money as he pitched into the 8th. Freese blew the biggest offensive chance for the Cards with a comebacker to Lester who started a 1-3-3 double play to end a bases loaded threat. It was all good for Boston & all bad for St. Louis. The Cards have to feel that game 2 will go better since it can't get any worse. Michael Wacha versus John Lackey tonight. The Sox may need another win as Jake Peavy moves up to pitch game 3 & Clay Buccholz is suspect for game 4. Buck is going to cost himself lots of dollars when he negotiates his next contract since he can't stay on the field.