The Boston Red Sox claimed Game 1 of the 2013 World Series with an 8-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Although Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester turned in a great performance, one Cardinals minor leaguer believes it may have been because the left-hander cheated.
Lester fanned eight batters while giving up no runs through 7.2 innings, but Cardinals minor league pitcher Tyler Melling believes Lester may have had a little help: Vaseline.
Jon Lester using a little Vaseline inside the glove tonight? pic.twitter.com/IyQn2iqg5f
— Tyler Melling (@TylerMelling) October 24, 2013
Melling is referring to the greenish stain near the top of Lester's glove. A video later posted on Vine shows Lester rubbing the stain before throwing a pitch.
Lester has been great in his four postseason starts, boasting a 3-1 record with a 1.67 ERA. He's slated to pitch Game 5, if the series extends that far.
As for the Cardinals, it's not the first time the team has accused an opposing pitcher of cheating in the World Series. St. Louis leveled allegations in 2006 at Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers, whom they accused of using pine tar in Game 2, according to WEEI 93.7. The umpiring crew disagreed and determined the substance the Cardinals saw was dirt.
Game 2 is on Thursday, with Michael Wacha and John Lackey set to square off.
