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BOSTON – Less than 24 hours earlier, Cardinals ace right-hander Adam Wainwright stood before a media throng, took responsibility for his clubs poor performance in the World Series opener and then expressed confidence Michael Wacha would pick him up. Wainwrights words seemed prophetic through five innings of Game 2, hit a glitch in the sixth, but then were repaired by an offensive outburst in the seventh keyed by a Red Sox defensive meltdown. The Cardinals pitched better, slightly, and played a better field than the Red Sox on Thursday. The result, a 4-2 win and a series even at a game apiece heading to the Gateway City. "The kid continues to impress," said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny of Wacha, his 22-year-old rookie starter. "I dont know what else you could ask. Put him on any stage and he does a real nice job of limiting distractions." Wacha improved to 4-0 in the postseason. He sports a dominant ERA of 1.00, having allowed only three earned runs in 27 innings of work. Where Wainwright felt he didnt set the proper tone on Wednesday, Wacha did on Thursday. He worked an efficient first inning, including a pair of strikeouts of Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia with nasty fastball-changeup combinations. "Nerves werent too bad," said Wacha, whod never pitched in Fenway Park. "Just kind of anxious to get out there. Its the World Series. Big-time game so I just tried to use it to my advantage to go out and pitch with some adrenaline and just try to block out the fans and the crowd." He didnt have his best stuff, but Wacha worked five scoreless innings. With St. Louis up 1-0 in the sixth, he issued a one out walk to Dustin Pedroia. David Ortiz followed and worked a full count before driving a changeup, often Wachas out pitch on this evening, over the Green Monster for a two-run home run. Boston led 2-1 and it felt as though Wachas strong start would go for naught. Not so fast. The Red Sox channeled the Cardinals from the night before and, in the seventh, handed St. Louis the split. With one out, John Lackey, who had another strong playoff start for the Red Sox, walked David Freese. Jon Jay followed with a single to end Lackeys night. Left-hander Craig Breslow took over. Pete Kozma, who entered as a pinch runner for Freese, and Jay executed a double steal. Breslow then walked Daniel Descalso, loading the bases for Matt Carpenter. The Red Soxs night fell apart. Carpenter lifted a fly ball to left field. Kozma tagged. The throw from left fielder Jonny Gomes skipped past catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Kozma scored. Breslow, backing up the play, attempted to throw out Jay trying for third but he hurled the ball into the seats. Jay scored the Cardinals go ahead run. They wouldnt look back. "Im sure Craig would like to have that ball back and hold it with a chance to shut down the inning right there," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "We give them the run ... Uncharacteristic of the way I think weve taken care of the baseball this year and it contributed to three runs." Carlos Beltran, who injured his ribs slamming into the wall to rob Ortiz of a grand slam on Wednesday night, deemed himself able to play about three hours before game time. He had two singles, including a hit in the eighth which provided St. Louis the insurance run. Positive signs all around for Matheny. "Very encouraged," said Matheny of Beltran, who received an injection of the painkiller Toradol before the game. "We were all kind of sitting around waiting to see how things would turn out today. We didnt know how he was going to feel but obviously he feels pretty good. He was moving well, too." Buoyed by the performance of a young starter, Wacha, who outdueled the veteran Lackey, the Cardinals hope for the same on Saturday. Back in St. Louis, 25-year-old Joe Kelly will pitch for the Cardinals against Bostons veteran 32-year-old Jake Peavy. 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DETROIT LIONS AT ATLANTA FALCONS, 9:30 AM (ET) Detroit - RB Reggie Bush, TE Eric Ebron, TE Joseph Fauria, WR Calvin Johnson, QB Kellen Moore, TE Brandon Pettigrew, OT LaAdrian Waddle Atlanta - CB Javier Arenas, DT Jonathan Babineaux, OT Cameron Bradfield, WR Freddie Martino, QB Sean Renfree, OT Jonathan Scott, LB Tyler Starr SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS, 1:00 PM (ET) Seattle - DT Jordan Hill, CB Byron Maxwell, OT Andrew McDonald, TE Zach Miller, C Max Unger, LB Bobby Wagner, WR Bryan Walters Carolina - CB Bene Benwikere, LB Chase Blackburn, WR Philly Brown, G Amini Silatolu, G Trai Turner, RB Fozzy Whittaker, RB DeAngelo Williams HOUSTON TEXANS AT TENNESSEE TITANS, 1:00 PM (ET) Houston - OT Jeff Adams, DB Josh Aubrey, LB Brian Cushing, DB Darryl Morris, WR DeVier Posey, QB Tom Savage, LB Jeff Tarpinian Tennessee - RB Antonio Andrews, WR Kris Durham, TE Richard Gordon, DL DaQuan Jones, CB Coty Sensabaugh, OT Will Svitek, TE Taylor Thompson BALTIMORE RAVENS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS, 1:00 PM (ET) Baltimore - CB Chykie Brown, LB Arthur Brown, DL Chris Canty, TE Owen Daniels, G/C Gino Gradkowski, RB Bernard Pierce, OT Jah Reid Cincinnati - RB Rex Burkhead, DE Will Clarke, WR A. Cheap Nike Air Max Wholesale . Thats when the eight-time champion revealed that a painful back is slowing his serves -- and, all in all, giving him more trouble than his opponents so far. Wholesale Air Max China . -- Valentin Zykov scored in overtime as the Baie-Comeau Drakkar rallied to a 3-2 victory over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Sunday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff action.MONTREAL - Usually, David Krejci is piling up points in the post-season, but not this year. The Boston Bruins top-line centre had no goals and only three assists through the first 10 playoff games. Like Max Pacioretty on the opposing Montreal Canadiens, he is starting to feel some heat for his lack of production. "It feels like its right there," Krejci said Monday as the Bruins prepared for a crack at eliminating Montreal in Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal. "We have to start putting the puck in the net more often. "My linemates (Milan Lucic and Jarome Iginla) have been doing a pretty good job at it. Theyve been great for me the whole year, so I want to return the favour and try to be better for them." Krejci led the playoffs in scoring with nine goals and 26 points in 22 games a year ago, when the Bruins lost to Chicago in the Stanley Cup final. He also went on a tear when Boston won the Cup in 2011 with 23 playoff points. But while Lucic had a decent three goals and four assists and Iginla scored four times and added two helpers, little has been happening for the guy who normally is the playmaker on the top unit. Other than, as usual, winning well over half of his faceoffs. "I believe my time is about to come and Im going to be big for my team," he said. "I owe it to these guys. "I know we dont live in the past. But Ive been in the position before were I know I can be the player, so Im trying to stay positive. Go out and work hard. My teammates have been doing a good job of winning hockey games, so I believe my time is just around the corner." Second-line centre Patrice Bergeron and the third line centred by Carl Soderberg were the main offensive threats for the Bruins. Krejci hassnt been helped by the opponents Boston has faced.dddddddddddd Both Montreal and Detroit are quick, skating teams that relay more on puck pressure than physical play. Krejci has struggled against the Canadiens in the past. Coach Claude Julien wasnt surprised to hear that Krejci feels indebted to his teammates. "Hes just a character guy," said Julien. "Hes demanding of himself and hes been a good player for us all year." Krejci was the first player on the ice for their game-day skate, but said he wasnt making any point. "At this time, when youre in a little slump like I am, then you have to work on your game and Ive been trying to do that," he said. "Like I said, I owe it to these guys, so I want to come up big for them." As he did ahead of Game 4, a 1-0 overtime win for Boston at the Bell Centre, Julien played around with his lines at the skate. They were expected to be back to normal by puck-drop. The Canadiens, who skated at their practice rink in Brossard, Que., caused a stir with broad hints that rookie Nathan Beaulieu would start on defence in place of Douglas Murray. Coach Michel Therrien kept his starting lineup to himself, however. "Its been good to be around the group," said Beaulieu, who has been practising with the main group in recent days. "Playoff hockey, it doesnt get any bigger than that, and it doesnt get any bigger than Montreal." It will be the first game since the incident at the end of Game 5 in which Bruins forward Shawn Thornton squirted water from the bench onto P.K. Subbans visor. Thornton was fined by the NHL for unsportsmanlike conduct. Therrien said it may end up helping his team. "A lack of respect can sometimes serve as motivation," he said. ' ' '