The Boston Red Sox and John Lackey will try to win the World Series at their home field for the first time since the Babe Ruth era while the St. Louis Cardinals look to force a penultimate Game 7 with rookie sensation Michael Wacha on the mound Tuesday at Fenway Park.
The Grass is Greener at Home
The Red Sox are on the verge of winning the World Series for the third time in 10 seasons. However, nothing could be sweeter than the opportunity to hoist baseball's Holy Grail on their home turf. The last time the Red Sox won the title at Fenway Park was in 1918, where Babe Ruth, Harry Hooper, Carl Mays were the stars of the legendary baseball franchise. After Ruth was traded following the 1919 season, Red Sox fans remember the painfully-long eight-decade drought of world championships and ill-fated seasons, known famously, or infamously, as "the Curse of the Bambino."
Leading the Cardinals 3-2 in the series, the Red Sox pin their hopes on Lackey to get the job done. Lackey, who went 10-13 with a 3.52 ERA and 161 strikeouts this season, will try to duke it out with St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha in the crucial game.
"It would be awesome," Lackey told the press ahead of Game 6 via ESPN "It was a ball game that nobody who was present will forget. It left too many lasting impressions," Edward F. Martin wrote the following day in the Boston Globe.
Forcing The Issue
Wacha, who allowed two runs in six innings in the Cardinals' 4-2 win in Game 2, is given the huge task of saving his team's World Series title hopes. The rookie pitcher was unhittable in the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. But in Game 2, the Red Sox sluggers tested Wacha and managed to score two runs against him.
"I imagine it's going to be crazy, but I'm not going to pay any attention to it," Wacha told the press via ESPN.
Manager Mike Matheny said his team is feeling optimistic about their chances in the critical Game 6 despite their flight being delayed en route to the game.
"Fortunately we have plenty of food, snacks for the kids, lots of entertainment with on-board movies, and everybody travels with all their high-tech stuff," manager Mike Matheny said. "Most of these kids are pretty happy that they're not in school right now, and it's a great way to spend a day."
The Cardinals listed injured first baseman Allen Craig as their designated hitter, giving them another reliable slugger on Wednesday.
Live Stream & Schedule
Coverage of Game 6 of the 2013 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Boston Red Sox will begin 7:30 p.m Wednesday, Oct. 30 on FOX Sports. The game can be streamed online via MLB Postseason TV while Audio Streaming is available on ESPN Radio. Live Scores and Boxscores Information is available on ESPN World Series Coverage.