Lester used only rosin in Game 1

Jon Lester said there was nothing but rosin — which is perfectly legal — on his glove when he beat the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of the World Series.

A Cardinals minor leaguer posted a screen shot on Twitter showing a green substance on Lester’s glove. Tyler Melling, a 25-year-old pitcher in the Florida State League, wrote: “Jon Lester using a little Vaseline inside the glove tonight?”

The Red Sox left-hander said before Game 2 that “I can honestly tell you that all I use is rosin. So, it’s obviously frustrating that after a night like [Wednesday] night, we should be having fun and running around with some energy today and I’ve got to stand here and answer questions about it.”

Lester allowed five hits in 72⁄ scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and a walk in the Red Sox’s 8-1 victory.

Boston manager John Farrell also said Lester uses only rosin, which is provided on the pitcher’s mound, to get a better grip. “If you know Jon Lester, he sweats like a pig and he needs rosin,” Farrell said. “I don’t see this as anything at all.”

Game 3 starter

Jake Peavy will start Game 3 for the Boston Red Sox instead of Clay Buchholz, who has weakness in his right shoulder. Farrell confirmed that he is flipping Peavy and Buchholz for the game when the Series moves to Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Farrell said Buchholz, who last pitched Saturday in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, could use extra time off. “I felt like the overriding thing was an additional day of rest for him.”

Omen

Boston’s win in Game 1 bodes well for the Red Sox’s chances in the World Series. The winner of the opener has won 62 percent of the Series. That’s been even more pronounced in recent years with nine of the past 10 Game 1 winners going on to take the title.

Ratings up

Boston’s 8-1 win against St. Louis drew an 8.6 national rating, a 14 share and 14.4 million viewers, Nielsen Media Research said. The rating was up 13 percent from the 7.6 rating for San Francisco’s 8-3 victory against Detroit last year, which was a record low for a World Series opener.