The Cardinals played a sloppy game, and the Red Sox showed why they’re where they are by taking advantage of the Cards’ miscues and once again playing fundamentally solid baseball. Once you get to the post-season, it’s all about avoiding the kinds of mistakes that get amplified beyond belief and, if you’re the other team, taking full advantage of them when they occur. Jon Lester really stepped up and pitched the kind of a game you’d expect from your #1 starter in a seven-game series.

The pressure now falls fully on the Cardinals’ shoulders for Game 2, because they certainly don’t want to have to go back to St. Louis down 2-0 with their #3 and #4 pitchers having to turn a series around. They’ve got the right guy on the hill, but I also expect John Lackey to be a veteran presence out there on the mound. He’s been there before and he knows what he’s got to do.

I really think the tense and incredibly close series the Sox played against the Tigers is working in their favor because gritting out close games has now become second nature to this veteran team. Clearly, nothing fazes them. They’re playing solid defense, have confidence in their starters and bullpen, and are not afraid to force the cardinals to throw strikes because otherwise they will grind you down. Sure, Adam Wainright wasn’t on his game last night, but the Sox didn’t swing at the pitches the Pirates and Dodgers did.

I still expect this series to go at least six games, but Boston fans have to feel good about the consistent play of their team this post-season. It’s now up to the Cardinals to prove to their fans they can do the same.

Tonight I’m heading back to Massachusetts for a week in lovely late-October to experience the World Series up close and personal, and it ought to be a lot of fun, if a bit chilly. I hope there are still a few leaves on the treees to enjoy some walks in the forest, watch some waves by the sea, and play a little late-season golf. I’ll be reporting to you from the Eastern Time Zone, so stay tuned.