Hilo native Kolten Wong got an opportunity Sunday to get on base in the ninth inning in game four of the World Series. The opportunity was short lived, however, and so were the Cardinals’ chances of coming back.
Wong, pinch running for Allen Craig in the bottom of the ninth inning, was picked off of first base by Boston Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara to end the game with St. Louis’ best hitter, Carlos Beltran, at the plate. St. Louis lost 4-2, evening the best-of-seven series with Boston at 2-2.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time that a postseason game ended in a pickoff.
Craig smacked a long single off of the wall in right field with one out in the inning. Because of lingering foot issues, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny decided to call on Wong, who picked up a hit and stole a base in game three, to run for Craig.
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After Matt Carpenter popped out to shallow right field for the second out, Beltran stepped to the plate. The right-handed slugger, who was hitting .261 in the postseason with 12 hits and 13 runs batted in, was facing a 1-2 count when Uehara decided to throw over to first base, where the Red Sox were holding Wong. The Kamehameha-Hawai`i graduate leaned right but never turned back in time, getting picked off to end the game.
Wong has played in only two World Series games, batting 1-for-1 with a stolen base. For the postseason, the rookie is batting .167 (1-for-6) with a strikeout.
Game five of the series takes place Monday at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. First pitch is slated for 2:07 p.m. and can be heard on AM 850 Hilo and AM 790 Kona.
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Game four notes
Shane Victorino was held out of Sunday’s game with lower back tightness. The Maui born outfielder has been hitless in 10 World Series at-bat’s with two strikeouts, a walk, and a pair of runs scored.
Jonny Gomes hit the game-winning home run in the top of the sixth inning to give his team a 4-1 lead. His three-run shot over the left field wall scored Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz. It was Gomes’ first hit of the World Series.
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