Jon Lester became the only lefty besides Babe Ruth to win three World Series games in a Red Sox uniform, as he hurled seven and two-third dominant innings of one-run ball to lead the hometown team to a 3-1 victory over the Cardinals in Game 5 on Monday night. The Red Sox will now have a chance to win a World Series at Fenway Park for the first time since 1918.

David Ortiz went 3-4, and smashed an RBI double to right field that knocked in Dustin Pedroia for the game’s first run in the top of the first inning. Ortiz has more hits this series (11) than everyone on the Red Sox besides Jacoby Ellsbury and Pedroia have accumulated over the entirety of the playoffs.

Arguably the biggest hit of the game came in the top of the seventh inning, when David Ross doubled home the game-leading run. Ellsbury followed with a bloop RBI single to centerfield, and the Red Sox had all of the cushion they needed. Koji Uehara recorded his seventh save of the playoffs, retiring all four batters he faced.

Lester Is One Of The Greatest Postseason Pitchers Ever

Lester now has a 1.97 ERA in 11 career playoff starts, and a 0.43 ERA in three career World Series starts. He is one of the best postseason pitchers of all time, and cemented his legacy with a performance for the ages in Game 5 against the Cardinals.

For the second time this series, Lester out-pitched Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright. The only mistake Lester made came in the fourth inning, when he left a fastball over the middle of the plate that Matt Holliday belted for a solo home run.

Lester’s cutter was fantastic, as he busted it in on lefties and away from righties. He had total command of the strike zone, striking out seven hitters on the night.

Perhaps Lester’s most impressive inning was the bottom of the seventh, as he was scheduled to face the middle of the Cardinals lineup (Holliday, Carlos Beltran and Yadier Molina). What added to the drama is that according to Curt Schilling, Lester tweaked his groin in the sixth inning.

Lester got Holliday and Beltran to pop out, and Molina to line out to end the seventh. He was removed with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning for Uehara when pinch-hitter Matt Adams came up to bat for the pitcher.

What’s most remarkable about Lester’s season is how mediocre he was for so much of it. After finishing the 2012 season with a 9-14 record and 4.82 ERA, Lester had a 4.58 ERA through the first half of the season. But then he was given extra rest around the All Star Break, and sported a 2.57 ERA in the second half.

Lester’s season has culminated with a 1.56 ERA in the playoffs. His only loss was a 1-0 defeat in Game 1 of the ALCS. Lester has done it all this month, and then some.

Bottom Of The Lineup Finally Came Through

The Red Sox bottom of the lineup has been beyond dreadful this series. But, they came up big when it mattered most.

With the score tied at one in the seventh inning, rookie Xander Bogaerts recorded his second base hit up the middle of the night with one out. Stephen Drew worked a walk (which is worse than walking the pitcher), and Ross slammed a ground rule RBI double to left field.

Ellsbury, who has gone 4-20 at the plate this series, hit a bloop single to centerfield that scored Drew with two outs in the inning. Ross tried to score, but was thrown out at home plate.

Ortiz can almost do everything himself, but even he needs a little help once in a while. The bottom of the order came through in Game 5.

Let The Daily Ortiz Tongue Bath Commence

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny still insists on having his pitchers throw strikes to Ortiz for some reason. With first base open after Pedroia’s double in the first inning, Ortiz rocked a one-run double to right field. Wainwright pitched to Ortiz again to lead off the fourth inning, and he singled to right field.

Napoli only recorded two at-bats in St. Louis, which is a testament to Ortiz’s play. He is now hitting .733 in the World Series after going 2-22 in the ALCS. The ALCS, by the way, was only a week ago. It is amazing how quickly things can change.

Drew’s Awfulness At The Plate Has Sparked An Amazing Twitter Account

Drew’s defensive prowess was on display again on Monday night, as he leaped and robbed Molina of a hit to end the fourth inning.

But after going 0-2 in Game 5, his postseason batting average is now down to .82. (Yes, .82!!!!)

Drew’s historic offensive ineptitude has prompted the Twitter handle, @DidDrewGetAHit, and it’s wonderful. (I am a Drew fanboy and will not follow it out of principle, but all of you should.)

Looking Ahead

Much has been made of the Red Sox’s offensive failings this series, but the Cardinals have been just as bad. Holliday is the only member of the team to hit a home run this series, as the Cardinals have failed to produce any substantial pressure on Red Sox pitching outside of the first inning of Game 3.

The Red Birds wasted an excellent outing from Wainwright, who struck out 10 batters in seven innings of work on Monday night. Michael Wacha will head to the mound in Game 6 after recording the win in Game 2.

Shane Victorino, who was scratched from the lineup for a second consecutive night with a stiff back, is projected to return to the lineup on Wednesday night. Victorino didn’t even come in for defensive purposes late in Game 5, though, which would leave one to believe his stiff back is still a serious concern. John Farrell started Jonny Gomes and Daniel Nava in the corner outfield spots in Victorino’s absence on Monday, and batted them fourth and fifth in the batting order. Pedroia moved up to the second spot in the lineup.

Farrell shouldn’t feel obligated to bat Victorino second if he starts Game 6, as he’s hitting .188 this postseason. Bogaerts should move up to the top of the lineup, and Pedroia should slide back to third spot in the order. Ross deserves to start the rest of the way at catcher.

That is the configuration that could potentially generate the most runs, which is what the Red Sox will be looking for in a World Series clinching game. And guess who will be on the mound for possibly the first Red Sox World Series win at Fenway Park in 95 years?

Photos and GIFs via Getty Images, Jeff Roberson/AP, L.G. Patterson/MLB.com, SB Nation and drawntomlb

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