What a perfect night. Now, in addition to laying claim to the very best peak of any pitcher in the rich history of Major League Baseball, Pedro Martinez has now notched his signature World Series performance. The guy has caught a raw deal at times over the years here and I have always had the sense that there were not many around Red Sox Nation that amply appreciated what we had every fifth day or so for the last seven years. Those people probably ought to consider this, this, this, this and this. He was as dominant as any pitcher ever – and that’s before environment adjustment. When one adjusts for environment, I just don’t see any way one wouldn’t have to conclude that he had the very best peak of any pitcher ever. Even though I have little doubt that Pedro Martinez has some very good years remaining, he could retire tomorrow and I am not sure that it would be hyperbolic to call him the greatest pitcher that ever lived. I am not sure I believe it and in fact I don’t think I do but there is certainly a case there. Regardless, I was ecstatic and at times emotionally overwhelmed to see Pedro pitch as he did. It was a remarkable and appropriate way for my favorite Boston athlete of all time to pitch on the biggest stage in the biggest game of his life. And if that was in fact the end (pardon me…lump in my throat), thanks for everything, Pedro. I will never, ever forget you.

As for the game itself, it sort of went as expected. Let’s face it. Pedro on seven days rest pitching for a contract, his legacy and a World Series title was a pretty good bet. And Jeff Suppan, as was noted yesterday, represented a juicy match-up for Sox batters. With two outs and nobody on in the top of the first, Manny Ramirez, on the fifth consecutive fastball he saw from Suppan, blasted a solo home run well into the Busch Stadium left field stands. I am not sure if Dave Duncan implemented that strategy or if the gritty Mike Matheny thought that was the best plan of attack or if Suppan himself wanted to tackle Manny in such a fashion but I will say here with full confidence that Jeff Suppan will never beat Manny Ramirez by throwing five consecutive fastballs. Never. The Cardinals threatened in the bottom half of the first but ironically in light of Game One’s events, Manny Ramirez bailed the Sox out by becoming the only player in World Series history to homer and throw out a runner at the plate in the same inning. With the bases loaded and just one out in the bottom of the first, Larry Walker tested Manny’s arm on a shallow pop fly to left off the bat of Jim Edmonds and paid for it. St. Louis would threaten again in the third. The Cards put men on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out but failed to push a run across. The key play came on a Larry Walker ground ball when, with Boston’s infield playing back so as to concede the run, Jeff Suppan, who had reached by virtue of an infield single and was on 3rd base, froze in the middle of the base line. Boston recorded the out at first and nailed Suppan scurrying back to 3rd base for a double play. Albert Pujols grounded out to end the threat and Pedro Martinez would not allow another base runner.

Displaying its lineup depth, something St. Louis cannot boast, the Sox tacked on one in the fourth on Bill Mueller and Trot Nixon’s back-to-back doubles and another two in the fifth on RBI singles by Ramirez and Mueller. It was a memorable game for Bill Mueller, who was playing in a World Series at the very ballpark he used to visit to root on his beloved Cardinals. I have been saying that I did not think it possible for St. Louis to hold Boston to less than five runs. But the Sox failed to reach that mark because Tony LaRussa wisely turned the game over to his pen early and then his relief arms performed tremendously. Four-and-one-third scoreless innings against this Sox offense, clicking as it is, is nothing to sneeze at.

Now the Red Sox stand on the brink of winning their first World Series title in 86 years. I am overcome with anticipation, giddy at the mere prospect and totally disinterested in delving further into the topic. St. Louis has to beat Derek Lowe and Tim Wakefield at home to turn this thing right back into a Series. Sound impossible to you?

Didn’t think so.