St. Louis Cardinals: Youth on Full Display
Oct 24, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) throws against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning of game two of the MLB baseball World Series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
The St. Louis Cardinals responded in game 2 of the World Series and played much better than the first game. They took advantage of a mistake made by the Boston Red Sox to win 4-2 and even the series at 1-1.
This game was expected to be a pitcher’s duel and it didn’t disappoint. Michael Wacha continued his great postseason run with another stellar pitching performance. He lasted six innings and yielded just three hits, with two runs allowed.
John Lackey was good as well, but the bullpen could not hold the lead and he took the loss in the game. Lackey threw 6.1 innings with three runs allowed on five hits to include six strikeouts.
St. Louis got on the board in the fourth inning by an RBI ground out from Yadier Molina. The seventh was the big inning for the Cardinals and where they made the most of an opportunity.
Matt Carpenter hit a sacrifice fly that scored one run. Then because of a missed catch error by catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia that included a throwing error by reliever Craig Breslow another run scored.
Later in the inning Carlos Beltran singled to right field that scored another run for St. Louis.
The only scoring for the Red Sox came from a David Ortiz two-run home run in the sixth inning.
Wacha needed to be at his best in a crucial game for the Cardinals and he was. The young pitcher was very effective in how he utilized his fastball and change up.
Boston had a tough time recognizing both pitches because they came from the same arm slot and he was changing speeds as well.
He was not the only young pitcher that helped the Cardinals in this game. They have two terrific young pitchers with power arms in Carlos Martinez and Trevor Rosenthal that finished the game off.
The impressive part is that between these two pitchers they struck out six batters and Rosenthal struck out three on just 11 pitches.
Boston had a chance to take a commanding 2-0 lead, but that costly mistake gave the Cardinals new life.
Also St. Louis seem to have some momentum going back home for the next three games in the series.