The 2013 MLB postseason (October 1-30) culminated with the Boston Red Sox securing their 8th World Series championship by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in six games. The playoffs featured historic storylines, including the Pittsburgh Pirates ending a 21-year postseason drought (first since 1992) with their first series win since 1979, while the Los Angeles Dodgers began what is now a 13-season consecutive playoff streak. In the Wild Card round, the Tampa Bay Rays shut out the Cleveland Indians 4-0, making Cleveland the first team in MLB history to be eliminated without scoring a run, and the Pirates downed the Cincinnati Reds behind two home runs from Russell Martin. The ALDS saw the Red Sox eliminate the Rays 3-1 (aided by David Ortiz's key hits), while the Detroit Tigers edged the Oakland Athletics in a tight 3-2 series. Boston's balanced offense and pitching proved decisive in the Fall Classic, capping a memorable season that also saw teams like the Pirates and Dodgers break long-running trends.