World Series Game 6: Red Sox clinch first championship at Fenway Park since 1918

(USA Today)

The Boston Red Sox overwhelmed the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 to win their first World Series clincher at Fenway Park since 1918. It's Boston's third world championship since 2004 and eighth in franchise history. In the process, they completed their remarkable turnaround from last place in the AL East in 2012, all the way to the mountain top of Major League Baseball.

Much like Game 6 of the ALCS, Shane Victorino had the biggest at-bat of the game with the bases loaded. His third inning bases-clearing double off Michael Wacha put Boston up 3-0. Victorino came to bat with the same situation in the fourth, and Victorino added an RBI single to improve his postseason numbers with the bases loaded to 3 for 3 with eight RBIs.

Stephen Drew put a 4 for 51 postseason slump behind him when he connected on a fourth inning solo homer. It was the third postseason homer of his career. Drew also had a terrific game in the field, starting a smooth 6-3 double play and snagging Matt Carpenter's line drive with a dive up the middle.

John Lackey was far from dominant, and actually nearly overstayed his welcome in the seventh inning, but worked around nine hits, a walk and two errors to limit St. Louis to one run in 6 2/3 innings.

David Ortiz didn't get to swing the bat much, but still contributed to the clinching victory with four walks — three intentional — and two runs scored.

(USA Today) Michael Wacha was nearly untouchable in his first four postseason starts, but an aggressive Red Sox offense finally solved the puzzle in Game 6. Boston tagged the rookie sensation for six runs in 3 2/3 innings, and seemed to center their plan around attacking his fastball. Wacha either didn't feel confident going to his changeup, or the Cardinals gameplan called for him to stay away from it, because he stuck with his fastball in nearly every key spot. It proved costly on Wednesday night, but Wacha's breakout postseason is a great sign for the Cardinals' future.

Matt Adams and David Freese remained invisible in the World Series. They were a combined 0 for 6 with three strikeouts in Game 6, and 6 for 39 in the series with 14 strikeouts.

Red Sox manager John Farrell nearly lived to regret leaving John Lackey in past his expiration date in the seventh inning. Clearly working on fumes, Lackey walked Matt Holliday to load the bases in a 6-1 game, but Junichi Tazawa retired Allen Craig on a groundout to get Boston back in the dugout.

• The last batter to walk four times in a World Series game was Doug DeCinces in 1979.

• Jonny Gomes' hit-by-pitch in the third inning was the first of Michael Wacha's pro career.

• Michael Wacha had not allowed a hit with runners in scoring position since Sept. 19. Batters were 0 for 16 over that time frame.

• Can the Red Sox become the first team since the New York Yankees (1998-2000) to win back-to-back World Series championships?

• Are the Cardinals positioned to make another World Series run in 2014?

• Shane Victorino's bases loaded heroics.

• John Lackey convincing John Farrell to let him face Matt Holliday.

(Getty) It’s celebration time in Boston, and then the hot stove season kicks off almost immediately. Postseason awards are scheduled to be handed out beginning on Nov. 11.

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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