Team completes rousing run from last-place finish to top of the league by routing the St Louis Cardinals 6-1.
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(Red Sox secured a triumph in the Fall Classic for third Major League championship in 10 seasons (Photo Reuters))[/caption]The Boston Red Sox have completed a run from a last-place finish to top of the baseball universe by routing the St Louis Cardinals 6-1 to win the World Series.
Wednesday's victory gave the Red Sox a 4-2 triumph in the best-of-seven Fall Classic for their third Major League Baseball championship in 10 seasons, starting the surge when they ended an 86-year title drought with their 2004 sweep of the Cardinals.
"Hey, we're world champs, can't believe it," said Shane Victorino, one of veterans who joined the Red Sox this year for their improbable run.
Victorino led the way with a three-run double in the third and a bases-loaded single in the fourth for four runs batted in.
David "Big Papi" Ortiz was named Most Valuable Player of the series, going 11-for-16 at the plate for a .688 batting average with two home runs and six RBIs.
Closer Koji Uehara struck out Matt Carpenter for the final out, setting off wild celebrations on the field and in the stands for the first World Series clinched in front of the home fans at Fenway Park since their 1918 championship.
It was an emotional climax for a team that had finished last in the American League East in 2012 with a 69-93 record, and had vowed to "B strong" in solidarity with a city shaken by deadly bomb attacks at the finish line of the Boston Marathon in April.
"What happened to this city, we wanted to do something special and make everybody happy and proud of their team in the toughest of times and hopefully we did that," said Dustin Pedroia.
"We love each other and that's why we're here."
The Red Sox became the only team other than the 1991 Minnesota Twins to go from last place in one season to World Series champions the next year.
While Victorino and the Red Sox did their damage against the Cardinals' 22-year-old rookie sensation Michael Wacha, Boston starter John Lackey held St. Louis in check.
The big righthander went 6-2/3 innings, giving up one run and scattering nine hits as the Cardinals failed to capitalise on opportunities, stranding nine runners on base.
(Source: Reuters)
(Al Jazeera, 31 Thursday October 203 The Roman)
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