Jonny Gomes answers the call, powers Red Sox, 4-2

ST. LOUIS -- From Clay Buchholz throwing four innings of one-run ball without an overpowering fastball to Game 2 starter John Lackey making his first relief appearance in nine seasons, every Boston Red Sox player was on call Sunday night.

But it was late lineup replacement Jonny Gomes who delivered the biggest blow to tie the best-of-seven World Series at two games apiece.

Gomes hit a three-run home runagainst reliever Seth Maness in the sixth inning to help the Red Sox to a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Gomes replaced Shane Victorino, who was scratched less than two hours before the game because of lower-back stiffness.

BOX SCORE: Red Sox 4, Cardinals 2

It’s uncertain whether Victorino will be available Monday night for Game 5, but Gomes’ home run ended a 1-1 tie and helped ensure that the Red Sox will send the Series back to Boston for Game 6 on Wednesday.

The game ended when closer Koji Uehara picked off pinch-runner Kolten Wong at first base.

“He was reminded of [Uehara’s pickoff move],” Cardinals Manager Mike Matheny said. “Then he slipped, and it cost him.”

Gomes’ home run was crucial against a Cardinals team that finally decided to pitch around hot-hitting David Ortiz.

Until Gomes’ home run, Ortiz had accounted for most of the Red Sox offense in the Series with two home runs and seven of their first 20 hits.

Ortiz, who hit a double and scored the Red Sox’s first run in the fifth inning Sunday after Lance Lynn pitched to the minimum 12 batters through the first four innings, is eight for 11 with a double and two home runs in the Series and is 12 for 39 (.439) with 10 walks in 12 World Series games.

With two outs in the sixth inning, Dustin Pedroia hit a single and Ortiz walked on four pitches, prompting Matheny to pull Lynn in favor of Maness.

But Gomes, who was 0 for 9, hit a 2-and-2 pitch over the left-field fence.

“[Maness] has been able to get the big out when we needed it,” Matheny said. “We wanted to give him a shot. It didn’t work out.”

Despite a fastball that was clocked only in the high 80s, Buchholz limited the Cardinals to one unearned run through four innings. Buchholz received an extra day of rest after coping with tightness in his right shoulder.

The Cardinals scored in the third inning when center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury bobbled a single by Matt Carpenter for his second error in as many games and Carlos Beltran followed with a run-scoring single.

Allen Craig, who aggravated his left ankle while scoring the winning run after an obstruction call to end Game 3, underwent X-rays before the game and they were negative.

Craig pinch-hit with one out in the ninth inning and singled off the right-field wall. Wong pinch-ran for Craig but Carlos Beltran didn’t get to complete his at-bat when Wong got picked off.

mgonzales@tribune.com

Twitter: @MDGonzales