The St. Louis Cardinals punched their ticket to the 2013 World Series on Friday night, and the Boston Red Sox will attempt to join them with a win Saturday. The Cards pounded Clayton Kershaw for seven runs in just four innings, while Michael Wacha and two relievers kept the harmless Dodger bats in check. When the assault was done, the Cards were victorious, 9-0.
St. Louis will be looking for their second World Series title in four years. In 2011, the Cards outlasted the Texas Rangers to win in seven games. This year, they will either face the Red Sox or the Detroit Tigers.
The Red Sox and the Cards were tied for the best record in the major leagues during the regular season, so it would seem only right that the two teams would meet in the World Series.
Boston sits on the cusp of its first trip back to the Fall Classic since 2006, when it swept to Colorado Rockies. The Tigers will not go quietly, though.
Manager Jim Leyland will send 21-game winner Max Scherzer to the mound with the season on the line. He’ll be opposed by Clay Buchholz. Scherzer has been solid in the postseason, but his relief has been less-than stellar. In his Game 2 start against the Red Sox, Scherzer left the game after seven innings pitched, having allowed just two hits and one earned run.
Detroit led 5-1 at that point, but the Red Sox exploded for four runs in the eighth and one more in the ninth to win 6-5. Will he need to go deep into the ballgame to ensure the Tigers have a shot to force a Game 7?
Undoubtedly, Tigers star Justin Verlander would get the ball from Leyland with a chance to pitch his team into the World Series should the Tigers get to that point. He lost a tough 1-0 decision in Game 4 when he was outdueled by John Lackey and the Red Sox bullpen. We’d probably see a rematch of the two hurlers if the Tigers can extend the series.
We’ll have to wait and see what happens Saturday night.
Once things are settled, here is the schedule for the 2013 World Series. If it is anything like the postseason series that preceded it, fans should be in for a treat.
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