The Red Sox are up 3 games to 2 in the World Series and they're headed back to Boston to, we hope, seal the deal and win their third title in 10 years. The Cardinals may have something to say about that, however. They're sending their rookie co-ace Michael Wacha to the mound in a rematch of Game 2 in an effort to force a Game 7.
This scenario is very familiar to the Red Sox, as they were in the same situation in the ALCS, up 3-2 to the Tigers and headed back to Boston for Game 6. We all know how that ended. Something about Shane "Shanf" Victorino (why "Shanf"? Just ask the guys at Over The Monster) and a grand slam.
John Lackey will be on the bump for Game 6 of the World Series and he's a guy who's been there and done that. When he was a much younger John Lackey, he pitched the Angels to victory in Game 7 of the 2002 Fall Classic. He's looking to do the same for the Red Sox in 2013, only a game earlier this time. His time with the Red Sox has been turbulent, to say the least. He was slightly disappointing in 2010 and downright atrocious in 2011, while pitching through a shredded elbow. Tommy John surgery followed in the offseason and Lackey sat out 2012. This year, he returned leaner and fitter and his ERA slimmed down as well (unfortunately, so did his run support). He had a so-so outing in the ALDS, but followed it with a shutout in the ALCS and a fine performance in the World Series as well. He even pitched in relief in Game 4, as a setup man for Koji Uehara. A clutch performance in Game 6 would be a perfect way to cap off his comeback season.
Now let's talk about Lackey's rotation mate Jon Lester. He had a lost season of his own in 2012 and suffered a brief relapse this season. After a few days away from the game over the All-Star break, Lester regained his focus and his command, pitching to a 2.52 ERA in the second half. In the post-season, especially the World Series, he has shown some dominant stuff. In his starts in Game 1 and Game 5, he limited the Cardinals to a single run over 15 1/3 innings. He was so dominant that the Red Sox allowed him to hit in the top of the seventh inning of Game 5 so that he could continue pitching. He ended up going 7 2/3, being lifted for Tazawa with two outs in the 8th. Such stellar pitching on the biggest stage in baseball is a redemption story in its own right.
Should the Red Sox win the World Series, the only man standing in the way of Lester being named MVP would be the guy with two rings already: David "Big Papi" Ortiz. All he's done is hit .733 through the first five games! With the Cards electing not to pitch around him (a questionable strategy, but one I am grateful for, as a Red Sox fan), Papi has been by far the toughest out of the series. He's also been the leader of the Band of Bearded Brothers in the dugout, calling an impromptu meeting in the dugout during Game 4, after which Jonny Gomes hit the game-winning 3-run blast.
Tomorrow night and, if necessary (and I hope it isn't necessary) begins the third act of what has been a highly competitive and somewhat bizarre World Series. By bizarre, I'm referring to the Game 3 obstruction call that went against the Red Sox and gave the Cardinals a walk-off win and the pickoff play by Koji that ended Game 4. Will this series end up like 1946 or 1967 or will it end up like 1918, the last time the Red Sox clinched a World Series win at home?
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