The Boston Red Sox’s nine-game World Series winning streak is tied with the Reds of 1975-76 and 1990 for the fourth best behind great Yankees teams of distinctly different eras. The Bombers hold the top three. The Red Sox haven’t lost a World Series game at Fenway Park since Game 4 of the 1986 Fall Classic against the Mets.

Carlos Beltran robbed David Ortiz of a grand slam in the second inning, but Ortiz later hit a two-run homer in Boston’s 8-1 rout of St. Louis, finishing 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

These Cardinals aren’t nearly as solid defensively as their old-school numbers say they are, and you only had to watch two innings of Game 1 of the World Series to see that flaw revealed. Meanwhile, the Red Sox made all the plays they were supposed to, plus one or two more. That’s what good defensive teams do, and Boston has been one all season.

The Red Sox clearly relished being back on the big stage of the World Series, using a quick-striking and opportunistic offense and a dominant performance by Jon Lester to take an 8-1 victory over the Cardinals in Wednesday night’s Game 1 at an electric Fenway Park.

Mike Napoli nearly won a World Series and a Series MVP Award while with Texas in 2011, losing to the Cardinals. On Wednesday night in Game 1, Napoli picked up where he left off, driving in three runs in Boston’s 8-1 win over St. Louis.

Jon Lester is a different person, a more seasoned pitcher than he was in 2007 when he wrapped up that World Series for the Red Sox over the Rockies in Game 4 at Coors Field. On Wednesday night in front of a raucous sellout home crowd at Fenway Park, Lester shut down the Cardinals on five hits and didn’t allow a run in Game 1 of the current Fall Classic.

Carlos Beltran bruised his right rib cage while making a wall-banging, grand slam-robbing catch in the bottom of the second inning of the Cardinals’ 8-1 loss to the Red Sox in Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday at Fenway Park. X-rays and a CT scan were negative, but Beltran’s status for Game 2 is uncertain.

An overturned call that went against the Cardinals in the first inning of Game 1 helped advance a Red Sox rally that ultimately saw them score three runs.

Finally, both sides agree that Don Mattingly will return as Dodgers manager in 2014.

Carl Yastrzemski threw out the ceremonial first pitch on Wednesday night before Game 1 of the 109th World Series between the Cardinals and Red Sox — “almost in the dirt,” he said with a little relief — and he vividly recalls his historic Triple Crown season of 1967 that ended when this same matchup of clubs produced a seven-game St. Louis victory over Boston. And the great Yaz remembers what America’s relationship was with its military at that time.

Xander Bogaerts may just be 21 years old, but he’s shown Red Sox manager John Farrell that he can handle the spotlight and pressure of the postseason and the World Series.

Mike Timlin was a reliever on the 2004 Red Sox World Series club that ended the franchise’s 86-year title drought, and he was back in Boston on Wednesday ahead of Game 1 predicting a “dogfight” in the rematch against the Cardinals.

Licey scored three runs in the first and three more in the second, broke out for eight in the third inning and put up at least one more run in every inning but the seventh. Rangers rookie Jurickson Profar went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two walks.

Clay Buchholz is healthy enough to start in this World Series, according to Red Sox manager John Farrell. But it still hasn’t been decided if Buchholz will start Game 3 on Saturday or Sunday’s Game 4.

A look at Wednesday’s lineups for Game 1 of the World Series between the Cardinals and Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Eric Hosmer certainly was having his fun in the last four months of the season and there’s little doubt how much effect he can have on the Royals’ chances next season.

The Dodgers traded outfielder Alex Castellanos to the Red Sox on Wednesday for Minor League outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker and cash, the club announced.