ST. LOUIS — No one has enjoyed this World Series ride more than Red Sox catcher David Ross, who came up with the big hit in Monday night’s 3-1 victory over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. He even got a big kick out of a large paper airplane that landed on the field.
The Red Sox hold a 3-2 lead in the World Series. One more win and Ross’ dreams come true.
His baseball life has been spent in the trenches and he has been beaten up by the game, including returning from a concussion this season.
“I’m in the World Series,’’ said a jubilant Ross, whose ground-rule RBI double to left off Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright snapped a 1-1 tie in the seventh. Jacoby Ellsbury added an RBI single later in the inning. “I’m laying it on the line. There’s no pressure.’’
As far as getting that big hit, the No. 8 hitter said, “There’s a reason why I hit in the 8-hole and the 9-hole in the American League. I’m not very good at hitting.’’
Ross, 36, is a lifetime .237 hitter. He served two stints on the disabled list this season, missing a total of 65 games because of concussion issues.
“I took two foul tips straight to the mask within a matter of about 10 pitches,’’ Ross said. “They really dinged me up pretty good. As athletes we feel like we can get through anything and I couldn’t.
“I stunk for three weeks and my wife was like, ‘If you don’t tell the doctors, I’m going to.’ ”
Ross told the team doctors.
“Headaches and dizziness and all the symptoms,’’ he said. “Couldn’t ride in a car, couldn’t be in crowded places. They sent me to a specialist, Micky Collins in Pittsburgh, who I have tremendous respect for and I probably wouldn’t be sitting here if not for him.’’
Ross is enjoying every bit of the ride, including a paper airplane that landed on the field and had to be picked up by Jon Lester.
“Yadi [Molina] and the umpire [Bill Miller] were pretty impressed. That was a nice throw. That thing glided in there, pretty good direction, nice airplane, nice big one. We were all talking about that. ‘That’s a nice throw. Where did that thing come from?’ We were all kind of in awe. The home-plate umpire, me and Yadi were all pretty impressed.’’
Ross is an impressive catcher and kept Lester on task.
“When Jon is not staying tall and front to back, if you see me, I do a lot of pulling on my chest to show him I want him to stay tall in his posture,’’ Ross said. “That way he works downhill.
“I’m not the type of player who can plan out all these goals. That’s probably why this all hasn’t sunk in yet because I’m worried about Game 6 already. There’s a pit in my stomach already. … But now I’m up here talking to you guys, this is pretty cool, right?’’
Yes it is.
One more win and Ross and the Red Sox can glide, just like that paper airplane.