The Boston Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 on Wednesday night to clinch the 2013 World Series.

The Red Sox have won three championships since 2004, but it was the first time they won the series at Fenway Park since 1918.

David Ortiz was named the World Series MVP. He 11-for-16 with with a .750 on-base percentage in the six games.

Lefty Jon Lester pitched the Red Sox within a whisker of yet another championship on Monday night.

Lester out-performed Adam Wainwright once again, David Ross hit a tie-breaking double in the seventh inning and the Red Sox downed the Cardinals 3-1 to take a 3-2 World Series advantage back to Fenway Park.

The World Series is tied at two games apiece following Boston's thrilling 4-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday night, which ensured the title will be decided back at Fenway Park.

Jonny Gomes hit a crucial three-run homer off Seth Maness in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie.

Third baseman Will Middlebrooks tripped Allen Craig for a game-ending obstruction call on Jon Jay's ninth-inning grounder, giving the Cardinals a bizarre 5-4 victory over the Red Sox on Saturday night and a 2-1 World Series lead, according to an ESPN.com report.

Jon Lester silenced the St. Louis Cardinals with seven-plus innings of shutout baseball as the Boston Red Sox took Game 1 of the World Series 8-1 on Wednesday night.

Lester allowed just five hits and struck out eight batters in 7 2/3 innings of work. He threw 112 pitches and walked a single batter.

The Red Sox scored three runs on a double by Mike Napoli in the first inning and added two more in the second. Boston nearly scored more as Carlos Beltran robbed David Ortiz of a potential grand slam to right field in the second frame. Ortiz was limited to a sacrifice fly, but Beltran had to leave the game with a rib injury.

He was taken to a local hospital for testing.

Ortiz connected on a pitch thrown by Seth Maness for a two-run home run in the seventh inning and Xander Bogaerts tacked on the eighth run with a sac fly of his own in the eighth.

Matt Holliday put St. Louis on the board in the top of the ninth with a solo home run to center field.

Game 2 will take place on Thursday night at Fenway Park.

The Cardinals committed an uncharacteristic three errors. The Red Sox got to Adam Wainwright early. The right-hander threw 95 pitches, but lasted just five innings. He was charged with three earned runs (five scored). He struck out four and walked one.

Shane Victorino brought the Red Sox one step closer to completing their comeback from last season's last place finish, sending them to the World Series with a seventh-inning grand slam that gave Boston a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers in Game 6 of the ALCS Saturday night, according to an ESPN.com report.

The Detroit Tigers took Game 1 of the ALCS over the Boston Red Sox, nearly recording a combined no-hitter in the process.

With one out in the ninth inning, Daniel Nava singled off Joaquin Benoit to add drama to a 1-0 game.

"At this point, especially in this series, it's not about throwing a no-hitter," starter Anibal Sanchez said. "As soon as you get some zeroes ... it's more important. It's more important than the no-hitter at this point."

Sanchez struck out 12 batters over six no-hit innings, but was pulled after throwing 116 pitches. He walked six batters.

Al Alburquerque, Jose Veras, Drew Smyly and Benoit finished the job.

"You give up one run and you like your chances," said Jon Lester, who allowed six hits and a walk, striking out four in 6 1/3 innings. "It was a great game. That was playoff baseball."

Opinions vary as to whether or not Yadier Molina tagged Mark Ellis at home plate in the 10th inning of Game 1 of the NLCS on Friday night.

Ellis was called out and the St. Louis Cardinals went on to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in 13 innings.

"I was out," Ellis said.

Ellis was then asked by the media if he was sure.

"Yeah. It was pretty obvious," Ellis said. "I think everybody saw that."

Carlos Beltran threw Ellis out from right-center field. Ellis said he was certainly out because he ran into Molina, who didn't drop the ball.

"It was pretty obvious I got tagged out," he said. "There was a collision at home plate. They're going to call you out every time. You run into it, you're out. That's how they're going to call it."

Justin Verlander pitched another brilliant Game 5 in Oakland while carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning, and Miguel Cabrera homered to lead the Tigers past the A's 3-0 Thursday night and back into the ALCS, according to an ESPN.com report.

Russell Martin homered twice as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-2 for their first playoff win in 21 years.

The win allowed Pittsburgh to advance to the National League Division Series, where they will face the St. Louis Cardinals.

"We're for real," Andrew McCutchen said. "We're definitely for real."

"We didn't talk about one-and-done; we talked about one and run," Clint Hurdle said. "Win one and run to St. Louis."