Boston Drops Cardinals 8-1 – MLB Roundup For Oct. 24th

BOSTON (AP) — David Ortiz, Mike Napoli and Jon Lester were quite a combination for the Boston Red Sox in Game1 of the World Series on Wednesday night.

Ortiz and Napoli drove in three runs apiece and Lester tossed shutout ball as the Bosox clobbered the St. Louis Cardinals 8-1 at Fenway Park. Ortiz hit a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly after Napoli put the Red Sox ahead with a three-run double in the first inning.

Ortiz's sac-fly in the second inning was almost a grand slam until right fielder Carlos Beltran robbed him. Beltran had to leave the game with bruised ribs after banging into the bullpen fence to make the catch.

Ortiz got his home run five innings later, launching a Kevin Siegrist (SEE'-grist) pitch over the bullpen in right-center. The two-run blast drove in Dustin Pedroia (peh-DROY'-uh), who was 2-for-4 with an RBI single and two runs scored.

Napoli's heroics came after umpires reversed a call on a force play at second base, ruling shortstop Pete Kozma (KAHZ'-mah) dropped the throw instead of losing it on the transfer.

Lester was masterful in limiting the Redbirds to five hits while striking out eight over 7 2/3 innings. He worked out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the fourth by getting David Freese (freez) to ground into an inning-ending double play.

The Cards did not score until Matt Holliday homered off Ryan Dempster leading off the ninth.

Losing pitcher Adam Wainwright was lifted after five innings, charged with three earned runs and six hits.

Game 2 is Thursday night at Fenway. John Lackey is slated to start for Boston against Michael Wacha (WAH'-kah).