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• World Series Game 1 - The Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays in four games in the ALDS then beat the Detroit Tigers in six games in the ALCS to reach the World Series. The St. Louis Cardinals knocked the Pittsburgh Pirates off in five games in the NLDS and then took out the Los Angeles Dodgers in six in the NLCS. Tonight the two teams start the 2013 World Series in Boston's Fenway Park with Jon Lester on the mound for the Sox against Cards' right-hander Adam Wainwright.
Lester, 29, is (2-1) with a 2.33 ERA in 19 1/3 IP so far this fall. He's held opposing hitters to a .229/.316/.329 line so far in postseason action in 2013. In two starts against the Tigers in the ALCS, the left-hander allowed 13 hits and three earned runs in 11 2/3 IP. The Sox' starter talked about the challenge of facing the Cardinals when he spoke to the media yesterday in the lead-up to Game 1.
"When it comes down to it," Lester told reporters, "just like with the Detroit Tigers, you've got to execute pitches. In the postseason you've got to stay away from big innings. If you can minimize that to one, maybe two runs, and give your team a chance. Obviously with their pitching staff, it's going to be tough again for us. But keep them in the ballgame and hopefully in the end have a chance to win.
Adam Wainwright, 32, is (2-1) in three postseason starts so far this season, posting a 1.57 ERA with one walk and 20 Ks in 23 IP in which he's held opposing hitters to a .207/.217/.317 line. The right-handed starter last pitched in Game 3 of the NLCS with Los Angeles, holding the Dodgers to two runs on six hits in seven innings. Asked how he'd approach the Red Sox, Wainwright joked with reporters saying, "I can't tell you that, can I? It's the scouting report."
"I know I'll have my work cut out for me," the right-hander continued. "One of my favorite things to do in the world is game plan for a game. I love it. I'll spend a good amount of time today and tomorrow coming up with a nice plan. [Yadier Molina] and I will get together tomorrow and we'll figure out a way to do it."
Game 1 of the 2013 World Series starts at 7:30 PM EDT from Boston...