THE ST LOUIS CARDINALS seized their first lead of the 109th World Series Saturday, taking advantage of a ninth-inning obstruction call for a 5-4 win over the Boston Red Sox.
What began as a low-scoring pitching duel turned into a see-saw offensive contest in the late innings, capped by the bizarre finish.
Allen Craig scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth after he tripped over Boston third baseman Will Middlebrooks before racing to home plate to give the Cardinals a victory and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Craig was tagged out at home plate, but because the umpires ruled that Middlebrooks had interfered with him at third St. Louis was awarded the winning run.
The Boston players protested vigorously, but television replays showed that Craig stumbled over a fallen Middlebrooks after the Red Sox infielder appeared to lift both his legs in an attempt to slow Craig down.
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“That’s a tough pill to swallow,” said Boston manager John Farrell. “Tough way to end a game, especially of this significance when Will is trying to dive inside to stop the throw. “I don’t know how he gets out of the way when he is lying on the ground.”
Game four is scheduled for Sunday in St. Louis, where the Cardinals will try to take a 3-1 stranglehold.
