Two Canucks in Series game, 1st since 2007

* Both RP John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) of the St. Louis Cardinals and RP Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC) of the Boston Red Sox shared the same Fenway Park mound Monday -- for the first time two Canucks have appeared in a World Series game since Game 1, 2007. ....  

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By Bob Elliott

It was not an everyday October happening.

Two Canadians pitching on the same mound in the same World Series game.

RP John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) of the St. Louis Cardinals and Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC) each pitched in Game 1 of the 2013 World Series as the Boston Red Sox won Game 1 over the St. Louis Cardinals by an 8-1 score Wednesday night at Fenway Park.

Axford used to pitch for Team Ontario, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Canisus College Griffins. In his 11th post-season outing he struck out the side _ Xander Bogaerts, Stephen Drew and David Ross -- in the sixth for the Cardinals.

In his career he has an 0.79 ERA in October with zero walks and 16 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings.

Dempster starred for the North Shore Twins and was the top Canuck drafted in 1995. It was his fifth post-season game for Dempster, who allowed a homer to Matt Holliday leading off the ninth. He then popped up Allen Craig and Yadier Molina, gave up a single to David Freese before striking out Matt Adams to end the game.

In five post-season games, Dempster is 0-1 with a 5.19 ERA, walking on and striking out eight in 8 1/3 innings.

Red Sox 8, Cardinals 1

Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO HR P-ST ERA

Axford 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 17-10 0.00

Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO HR P-ST ERA

Dempster 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 1 23-16 9.00

And 30 World Series games before LHP Jeff Francis (North Delta, BC) started for the Colorado Rockies, while RP Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.), a former Cy Young award winner with the Los Angeles Dodgers, came on in relif for the Red Sox.

Francis, a former North Delta Blue Jays and British Columbia Thunderbirds ace, allowed a six runs on 10 hits and three walks in four innings. He gave up a home run to Dustin Pedroia in the first, as well as doubles to Jason Varitek, Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and J.D. Drew.

Francis made three starts for the Rockies going 2-1 with a 4.86 ERA, walking two and fanning 15 in 16 2/3 innings.

Gagne pitched for the Academy Baseball Canada, Seminole Junior Colleg and Team Canada which was attempting to qualify for the 1996 Olympics, before signing as a free agent with the Dodgers in 1995.

He worked a 1-2-3 ninth getting Todd Helton to hit a fly ball to left, Garrett Atkins to hit a fly ball to centre and Brad Hawpe to strikeout swinging to end the game.

In nine post-season appearances, Gagne was 0-1, with a 2.89 ERA, walking none and fanning 10 in 9 1/3 innings.

Red Sox 13, Rockies 1

Game 1 2007

Pitcher            IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA P-ST

Francis, L (2-1) 4  10 6 6 3 3 1 4.86 103-62

Pitcher  IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA P-ST

Gagne 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 6.23 11-8