Mariano Rivera has received countless tributes since he announced this would be his last season. The Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award, which he received from Bud Selig before World Series Game 2 at Fenway Park on Thursday night, has added significance, baseball’s all-time saves leader said.

Select members of the 2004 Red Sox team — also affectionately known as the “Idiots,” who ended an 86-year drought of exactly zero World Series titles in Beantown — were invited to throw out ceremonial first pitches prior to Game 2 on Thursday night at Fenway Park.

Following speculation that Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester had a foreign substance in his glove during Game 1 of the World Series, Major League Baseball said in a statement that there is no conclusive video evidence of Lester violating MLB rules. The Cardinals consider the matter a “dead issue,” with Lester saying it was only rosin, the same stuff that is available behind every pitcher’s mound in baseball.

After tossing seven scoreless frames in the Red Sox’s 4-1 win over the Cardinals in Game 3 of the 2004 World Series at Busch Stadium, Pedro Martinez told the world that he wanted to remain in Boston.

Carlos Beltran never emerged from the Cardinals’ clubhouse for pregame batting practice on Thursday, but the swings he took in the indoor cage were sufficient enough a test for the right fielder to deem himself good to go in Game 2.

As expected, the Cardinals will start Joe Kelly against the Red Sox in Game 3 of the World Series, which will be played at Busch Stadium on Saturday (6:30 p.m. CT air time on FOX, 7:07 first pitch).

Despite suffering a tear of the UCL in his left thumb on Opening Day, Dustin Pedroia has played a career-high 160 games this season and has gained admiration from his team by playing through the injury all year.

The teamwork that the umpires used in correcting second-base umpire Dana DeMuth’s missed call in Game 1 of the World Series is something Red Sox manager John Farrell appreciated.

Major League Baseball continued to drive home awareness of military veterans and their families Thursday afternoon with an event that drew Commissioner Bud Selig, Red Sox chairman Tom Werner, Hall of Famer Jim Rice, Red Sox legends and other dignitaries to the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

Keith Foulke spoke to Boys & Girls Clubs of America kids at the Roslindale Community Center on Thursday afternoon at Major League Baseball’s “Wanna Play?” youth clinic, teaching them the importance of living healthy.

Lloyd McClendon, who spent the past eight years on Detroit’s coaching staff after managing the Pirates from 2001-05, interviewed for the Tigers’ managerial vacancy Thursday.

Game 2 of the World Series is focusing on two long-time MLB charitable partners in Habitat for Humanity as well as Boys & Girls Clubs of America. On Thursday, Habitat, MLB and the Red Sox made it possible for the Bule family to get keys to a new home in the rebuilding Dorchester community.

As the Cardinals lick their wounds after being crushed by Boston, 8-1, in the first game of the World Series, all they have to do is look back to 1982 to gain a measure of hope.

Starter Jon Lester went 7 2/3 scoreless innings and cleanup man David Ortiz had a home run and three RBIs to lift the Red Sox to an 8-1 win over the Cardinals in Game 1 of the World Series.

For today’s leadoff hitters, on-base percentage is king. That’s why, when Rafael Furcal opted for Tommy John elbow surgery and John Jay had a slow start to the season, the Cardinals decided to give Matt Carpenter a shot at the top of the lineup, even though he had never hit in that spot before. In four years in the Minors, Carpenter had a .408 on-base percentage and a reputation for grinding out lengthy at-bats.

As the Red Sox look to get the most out of having both David Ortiz and Mike Napoli in the lineup, Michael Wacha looks to keep rolling for the Cardinals as the World Series plot thickens in Game 2 on Thursday.

The Cardinals may have made some errors, and Adam Wainwright may not have been at the top of his game, but it was Jon Lester’s command from the very beginning that helped the Red Sox roll past the Cards in Game 1 on Wednesday.