Red Sox Defeat Cardinals, 3-1, Take World Series Lead

The Boston Red Sox won game five of the 2013 Major League Baseball World Series on Monday night, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-1, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri.

The win gives the Red Sox a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven game series, and leaves them one win away from their eighth World Series title.

Boston jumped on St. Louis starting pitcher Adam Wainwright with a run in the top half of the first inning, as David Ortiz doubled, driving home Dustin Pedroia, to give the Red Sox a quick 1-0 lead.

View the RBI double by Ortiz, below, and all videos, courtesy of mlb.com.

Matt Holliday tied things up in the bottom of the fourth inning, when the St. Louis outfielder homered off of Boston starter Jon Lester, making the score 1-1.

The Red Sox took the lead for good in the top half of the seventh inning, when David Ross doubled, scoring Xander Bogaerts, to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage.

One batter later, Jacoby Ellsbury singled to center, scoring Stephen Drew. Ross was thrown out, trying to score, but Boston had a 3-1 lead, one they would not relinquish.

Koji Uehara, who pitched the final 1.1 innings, closed the door for the Red Sox, retiring Holliday to end the game.

Lester got the win for Boston, while Wainwright suffered the loss for St. Louis, with Uehara being credited with the save.

Ortiz led the way at the plate for the Red Sox, going 3-for-4, with an RBI, while David Freese collected two hits in a losing cause for the Cardinals.

View the game box score.

Game six will be Wednesday evening, in Boston.

Game seven, if necessary, would also be held in Boston, on Thursday night.