USA

Red Sox Take 3-2 World Series Lead

Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, right, is greeted in the dugout after being pulled from the game during the eighth inning of Game 5 of baseball's World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Oct. 28, 2013

The Boston Red Sox are returning home with a chance to win the Major League Baseball World Series after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 in game five Monday night.

The victory puts the Red Sox ahead three games to two in the best-of-seven championship series.

The game was tied 1-1 through six innings, continuing a trend of tight early battles between the two teams. The Red Sox broke the game open in the seventh inning, scoring a run on a double by catcher David Ross and another on a single by outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

That was all the offense the team would need as Boston pitchers Jon Lester and Koji Uehara combined to give up just one St. Louis hit the rest of the game to seal the win.

The Cardinals are sending rookie star pitcher Michael Wacha to the mound for Wednesday's game six, hoping to beat Red Sox veteran John Lackey and force a game seven in Boston on Thursday.

The two pitchers matched up in the second game of the series, which the Cardinals won 4-2.

Red Sox Win!