Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli celebrates after tagging out St. Louis Cardinals' Kolten Wong on a pick-off attempt to end Game 4 of baseball's World Series Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, in St. Louis.
The Boston Red Sox got a major performance from an unlikely starter, then hung on to win a wild game against the St. Louis Cardinals and even the World Series at two games apiece.
Outfielder Jonny Gomes, who learned only a couple of hours before Game 4 that he would be starting in place of the injured Shane Victorino, blasted a three-run home run in the sixth inning that put the Sox up by three. But Boston fans, who have seen similar leads evaporate this postseason, still held their breath until the very last out. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Red Sox closer Koji Uehara caught Cardinals pinch runner Kolten Wong leaning off first base and threw him out, making Sunday night’s game the first postseason game in Major League history to end with a pickoff.
The win ensures that the World Series will end in Boston. The Cardinals and Red Sox square off in St. Louis tonight, then will play Game 6 in Boston on Wednesday and, if necessary, Game 7 on Halloween night.
[AP]