The Boston Red Sox beat the St Louis Cardinals 8-1 in Game 1 of the World Series to take a 1-0 series lead.
Things didn't go well for Adam Wainwright in this one, as he immediately walked Jacoby Ellsbury to lead off the game.
Of course the stingiest starting pitcher with walks all season walks the first batter he faces in the WS.
— Wendy Thurm (@hangingsliders) October 24, 2013
After getting Shane Victorino to line out and giving up a single to Dustin Pedroia, all hell broke loose when David Ortiz grounded to first in a would be inning-ending double play. Pedroia was initially called out at second despite Pete Kozma never holding the ball.
(gif via Buzzfeed)
Predictably, Twitter went nuts.
1 inning before a horrible umpire gets in the way of a great World Series. You guys all had the under, right?
— Mitch Goldich (@mitchgoldich) October 24, 2013
Angel Hernandez thinks that ball hit the top of the fence.
— Jeremy Dorn (@jamblinman) October 24, 2013
Throw the challenge flag…! Oh, wait. #humanelement
— Rob Peterson (@ShotDrJr) October 24, 2013
After an umpire powwow, the call was reversed, and Pedroia was called safe at second.
Predictably, Twitter went nuts.
Carpenter shouldn't have underhand tossed that. He was too far away, nothing on the throw. Turn and overhand throw.
— CJ Nitkowski (@CJNitkowski) October 24, 2013
I imagine that umpire conversation going something like this … "We all saw you blew that. How long do we wait until overturning it?"
— Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan) October 24, 2013
Sure is a good thing instant replay isn't here yet. Replay would have totally slowed this game down. Oh, wait …
— Jeff Erickson (@Jeff_Erickson) October 24, 2013
Good job by the umpires getting it right. But, it should've never come to this. I know umpires are human, but you can't miss that call.
— Robert Ford (@raford3) October 24, 2013
WEEI saying this not like ARod hand slap – unprecedented move to overturn call by ump when play directly in front of him.
— Seth Mnookin (@sethmnookin) October 24, 2013
Well, there's your story tomorrow, baseball columnists…
— Andrew Vazzano (@AVSNY) October 24, 2013
After all that chaos, Mike Napoli hit a three-run double to left center, clearing the bases and giving the Red Sox a 3-0 lead right off the reel.
This is probably a good time to remind y'all that if Nelson Cruz catches that ball, Mike Napoli is a World Series MVP.
— Greg Tepper (@Tepper) October 24, 2013
No grand slam? Man, the Red Sox are definitely choking under this pressure…
— Larry Granillo (@wezen_ball) October 24, 2013
#MathenyFace pic.twitter.com/0EMkT2GCMr
— Josh Gold-Smith (@GoldAndOrSmith) October 24, 2013
I have seen this before 2007 World Series game 1 Francis shelled. 9 day layoff doomed rox. Beckett opened game w 33 or 34 straight FBs
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) October 24, 2013
Jon Lester cruised through the second, and Wainwright once again took the hill, this time looking to have an easy inning. His second inning of work immediately turned ugly thanks to some miscommunication between him and Yadier Molina on a pop-up by Stephen Drew.
(gif via Buzzfeed)
The reactions to the play were about what you'd expect from each fanbase, as well as neutral fans weighing in to take general shots at the ridiculousness of the play.
What?
— Ken Fang (@fangsbites) October 24, 2013
Good grief. Man. Have the Cardinals actually played baseball before?
— Seth Mnookin (@sethmnookin) October 24, 2013
Sigh.
— CE's Mustache (@CEs_Mustache) October 24, 2013
Demuth called Drew out on that
— dianagram (@dianagram) October 24, 2013
Surprised the umps didn't call that an out first.
— Marc Normandin (@Marc_Normandin) October 24, 2013
The Cardinals Way is apparently stuck in traffic.
— David Cameron (@DCameronFG) October 24, 2013
We've secretly replaced your Cardinals with the 2013 Astros. Let's see if anyone notices.
— Matthew Pouliot (@matthewpouliot) October 24, 2013
and of course, that's a single bc no one touched it. Amazing rules.
— Matt Snyder (@MattSnyderCBS) October 24, 2013
The second got even uglier for the Cardinals. After Drew's single that shouldn't have been a single, David Ross singled, and Victorino reached on another error by Kozma with one out. Once again, Kozma was lambasted.
Kozma shouldn't have dipped his glove in Crisco before the game. Bad job by him. #WorldSeries
— Amanda Rykoff (@amandarykoff) October 24, 2013
Pedroia singled in Drew to make it 4-0.
David Ortiz stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and visions of another grand slam in his head. Ortiz nearly delivered, smashing a ball to deep right field. But Beltran did what Torii Hunter couldn't do – rob Ortiz of the grand slam and keep himself on the field.
(gif via Buzzfeed)
Ortiz's fly ball still ended up bringing a run in to make it a 5-0 game, but Beltran's great catch was the real story, drawing strong reactions from fans across the country.
GAHHHHHHHH
— Ryan Hudson (@ry_hudson) October 24, 2013
Carlos Beltran just did that like it was routine.
— Marc Normandin (@Marc_Normandin) October 24, 2013
Carlos Beltran being Carlos Beltran.
— Ken Fang (@fangsbites) October 24, 2013
No, Beltran. You are supposed to fall over the wall. The Cardinals can't get anything right tonight.
— Matt (@HrzMatt) October 24, 2013
Beltran should've let it go to kill the rally.
— Paul Sporer (@sporer) October 24, 2013
The cop wasn't around because he was too tired after taking pictures with every single person over the past few days.
— Ricardo Marquez (@iBlogBetter) October 24, 2013
Cardinals Game 1 execution has had more glitches than healthcare . gov site
— jasoncollette (@jasoncollette) October 24, 2013
OK, now this is the craziest World Series opening ever. That sealed it …
— Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan) October 24, 2013
Sure, Beltran denied a grand slam. But where was the passion?
— Howard Megdal (@howardmegdal) October 24, 2013
Ultimate Carlos Beltran play — very difficult, no pointless flashiness. Feel sorry for all the idiot #Mets fans who never appreciated him.
— Jason Fry (@jasoncfry) October 24, 2013
Beltran is playing like a Cardinal, but the rest of his team is playing like the Mets.
— Peter Botte (@PeterBotte) October 24, 2013
That would be all for Beltran, as Jon Jay replaced him in the Cardinals lineup and Shane Robinson took Beltran's spot in right field. The diagnosis? A bruised rib. Beltran left Fenway Park and went to the hospital for x-rays. No Beltran? Good night, Cardinals.
Carlos Beltran waited all that time to get to a World Series, and gets hurt in the second inning. This has become quick nightmare for Cards.
— Tom (@Haudricourt) October 24, 2013
Now in strange position of wishing that Cardinals' right fielder would have let a grand slam in a WS game just go over the wall. #Beltran
— Will Leitch (@williamfleitch) October 24, 2013
Beltran just doesn’t have #TWTW
— Ruhee on Rails (@ruhee_) October 24, 2013
If Beltran doesn't catch that ball, Wainwright is run but able to pitch games 3 & 7, & Beltran doesn't get hurt.
— Rob in WI (@WisconsinRob) October 24, 2013
Beltran's hurt? CARDINALS DEVIL MAGIC HAS OFFICIALLY TURNED ON THEM
— Joe Lucia (@Joe_TOC) October 24, 2013
Defense has been an adventure and now Jon Jay is in center!
— jasoncollette (@jasoncollette) October 24, 2013
Why are we even watching a baseball game that Carlos Beltran's not playing?
— Ted Berg (@OGTedBerg) October 24, 2013
And really, once Beltran left the game, the night didn't get any better for the Cardinals. They loaded the bases in the fourth, but David Freese grounded into an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play. They put runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth thanks to a Jonny Gomes error, but Jay grounded out to end the inning.
I never, ever count the Cardinals lineup out of a game — especially when it's 'just' 5 runs
— ctrent (@ctrent) October 24, 2013
In the event the Cardinals were wondering what else could go wrong, David Freese shows them.
— Tom (@Haudricourt) October 24, 2013
The ol’ 1-2-3 double play… and here I thought David Freese was Mr. Clutch.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) October 24, 2013
That was cute how the Cards thought they were only one swing away from being back in the game..
— Larry Granillo (@wezen_ball) October 24, 2013
Prince Freeslder
— Matt Sussman Costume (@suss2hyphens) October 24, 2013
How do the Cards win? Simple: Beltran and starting pitching. #TweetsFromTwoHoursAgo #WorldSeries
— Kevin Sullivan (@kevinbsullivan) October 24, 2013
Jonny Gomes plays defense dot gif
— Cespedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) October 24, 2013
It's like batting .350 with RISP is not sustainable or something. #WorldSeries
— Amanda Rykoff (@amandarykoff) October 24, 2013
Red Sox and Cardinals both have 5 hits through 5 innings. Red Sox lead 5-0.
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) October 24, 2013
As usual, Sweet Caroline at Fenway Park during the seventh inning stretch was an event, but Cardnals fans didn't have much to sing about all night. But why not pick on Kozma some more?
Pete Kozma tried to clap after God Bless America but he missed his hands. #WorldSeries #STLCards
— Eric Crain (@EricCrain) October 24, 2013
In the seventh, Ortiz put a little bit of extra lumber on the ball, smashing a two-run homer to right, extending Boston's lead to 7-0.
Papi is tired of this nonsense of people jumping at the bullpen wall.
— Dave Hogg (@Stareagle) October 24, 2013
Who is in charge of clutch? Is it clutch to homer in a blowout World Series game?
— Beyond the Box Score (@BtBScore) October 24, 2013
Welcome to Fenway, Siegrist.
— Marc Normandin (@Marc_Normandin) October 24, 2013
Ortiz the first LHH to hit a HR off Siegrist in the big leagues.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) October 24, 2013
The St Louis offense didn't put a runner on base against a dominant Jon Lester after the fifth inning. For the night, Boston's ace allowed five hits over 7 2/3 shutout innings, walking one and punching out eight and leaving to a standing ovation in the eighth from the crowd at Fenway Park
Jon Lester joins Bob Gibson as ONLY pitchers with 7+ IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 8+ K in World Series Game 1
— Jeremy Lundblad (@JLundbladESPN) October 24, 2013
I think this tweet just about sums up the feeling of Cardinals fans by the end of the game after rookie Carlos Martinez allowed a leadoff double to Daniel Nava in the eighth, which led to Nava scoring run number eight of the night for the Red Sox courtesy of a Xander Bogaerts sacrifice fly.
Current World Series pitcher –> pic.twitter.com/3Amgdo10Rs
— Matt Sebek (@MattSebek) October 24, 2013
But all wasn't for naught for the Cardinals – Matt Holliday hit a solo homer in the ninth off of Ryan Dempster to avoid the shutout!
Baseball can be a fast game when one of the teams just rolls over and dies. #worldseries
— Joshua Lyman (@joshualyman) October 24, 2013
Ryan Dempster enters as John Farrell uses his bullpen appropriately.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) October 24, 2013
I'm always surprised when a half inning ends and the Red Sox fans *don't* have a coordinated singalong.
— Zachary Levine (@zacharylevine) October 24, 2013
The rally begins.
— Luke Zimmermann (@lukezim) October 24, 2013
Holliday totally killed any potential rally.
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) October 24, 2013
The Cardinals can smell the Ranger on Dempster.
— Greg Tepper (@Tepper) October 24, 2013
8-1 sounds worse than 8-0, Cardinals. Makes it seem like everyone was trying.
— Matt Sebek (@MattSebek) October 24, 2013
that ball would've bounced off of Pete Kozma's head and over the CF fence for a home run…
— Larry Granillo (@wezen_ball) October 24, 2013
The game almost ended with Victorino throwing Freese out at first on a ground ball into right, but Freese slid in to first safely, much to the dismay and anger of the Twitterverse.
David Freese joins the World Series IDIOT CLUB.
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) October 24, 2013
That would have been an *amazing* way to end a World Series game!!!
— Larry Granillo (@wezen_ball) October 24, 2013
That’s why Usain Bolt slides feet first at the end of every 100m race. Just the fast way to get there
— Brian J Pickett (@BrianPickett) October 24, 2013
Sliding into first = The Cardinal Way
— Dave Kaufman (@TheKaufmanShow) October 24, 2013
somewhat surprised David Freese didn't hit an 8 run go ahead homer there but whatever
— Cespedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) October 24, 2013
Chalk up yet another victory for unsanitary habits. #RedSox #WorldSeries
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) October 24, 2013
Game 2 of the series will be Thursday in Boston at 8 PM on Fox. Cardinals rookie Michael Wacha will look to even the series at one game apiece, while John Lackey gets the nod for Boston.