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In the all important Game 4 the Red Sox sent Clay Buchholz to the mound, knowing full well that he was not 100% in shape. He had been dealing with a shoulder injury for months and still is being troubled by the shoulder of his throwing arm.
He was not expected to go deep into the game and was only able to go four innings, in which he allowed just one unearned run. He was relieved by Felx Doubront, who allowed another run in 2.2 innings, but not after the Red Sox had taken the lead, thanks mainly to a three-run home run off the bat of Jonny Gomes. Gomes was not even slated to play, but replaced an injured Shane Victorino and collected his first hit of the World Series in grand fashion.
Junichi Tazawa, Game 2 and most likely Game 6 starter John Lackey and Koji Uehara closed out the game with 2.1 shutout innings. Pinch-hitter Allen Craig got the only hit in those last two innings, but saw his pinch-runner Kolten Wong get picked off for the final out of the game with slugger Carlos Beltran at the plate.
Ace-off
The final game in Busch Stadium, St. Louis, will feature both teams’ aces. Jon Lester gets the start for the Red Sox, while Adam Wainwright gets the knod for the Cardinals. Both pitchers also started Game 1, in which the Red Sox easily beat St. Louis due to a few poorly timed fielding gaffes by the Cards.
Lester allowed just five hits in over seven shutout innings and struck out eight to get the win. Wainwright was hit with the loss as he allowed five runs (three earned) in five innings on six base hits.
The Red Sox again just managed to get six base hits in Game 4. Manager John Farrell has decided to swap a few players around in his lineup. Jonny Gomes is starting in left field again and will hit from the cleanup spot, while Pedroia and Ortiz move up one spot in the lineup. He will hope that Gomes will knock in some runs again, because the bottom of the lineup has been terrible for the Sox.
Game 5 pitching matchup
Adam Wainwright (19-9, 2.94 ERA) vs. Jon Lester (15-8, 3.75 ERA)
Aside from Game 1 in this Fall Classic Adam Wainwright had a fantastic track record and he feels like his outing in the first game of the series was just an incident, but could it be he is tired? He has already logged over 260(!) innings this year.
Lester has looked really good off late and should be considered the pitcher in best shape going into this game.
Money line
The bookies believe that Wainwright will bounce back and feel the Cardinals are the favorites (-129) in their last home game this season. I feel the Red Sox should once again ride Jon Lester’s success and could very well beat the odds at +119.
The Red Sox will try to prevent a Game 7 at all costs, because they would have to start Jake Peavy in that deciding game. Whoever wins Game 5 is the favorite to win the title and I think the Red Sox will win tonight.