Baseball: Boston Red Sox close on World Series victory after taking a 3-2 lead at the Busch Stadium

The Red Sox can wrap up the title at their home ground of Fenway Park on Wednesday

Boston Red Sox took a 3-2 lead in baseball's World Series (GETTY IMAGES)

The Boston Red Sox took a 3-2 lead in Major League Baseball's World Series and will have the chance to win the title back at Fenway Park on Wednesday.

The game hinged on a two-run seventh inning for the Sox as David Ross scored Xander Bogaerts and Jacoby Ellsbury singled in Stephen Drew.

Jon Lester was credited with the win and became only the second pitcher to start his World Series career with a 3-0 record, while David Ortiz reached base on his first two at-bats to match a World Series-record streak of nine.

Boston took the lead in the first inning as Dustin Pedroia doubled and was driven in by the in-form Ortiz, who also played his part on defense while playing as a first baseman rather than a designated hitter due to the game being on the National League Cardinals' home field.

Matt Holliday's solo home run levelled matters in the fourth - and drew a huge cheer at the St Louis Rams' NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks when the replay was shown on the big screen at Edward Jones Dome.

Carlos Beltran was just unable to follow suit as Jonny Gomes took the catch deep in left field in the cavernous surrounds of Busch Stadium

David Freese doubled for St Louis in the eighth but Pete Kozma and pinch-hitter Matt Adams were unable to take advantage.

Lester allowed just four hits and Holliday's yard ball in nearly eight innings before Koji Uehara finished the job.

After a travel day on Tuesday, the teams will reconvene in Boston on Wednesday and, if necessary, Thursday as the series reaches its conclusion.

PA