Updated

With the Boston Red Sox back in the World Series, television ratings jumped for the opener.

Boston's 8-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals drew an 8.6 fast national rating and 14.4 million viewers, Nielsen Media Research said Thursday.

The rating was up 13 percent from the 7.6 for San Francisco's 8-3 victory over Detroit last year, which was a record low for a World Series opener. Wednesday night's game was seen by 14.4 million viewers, up 18 percent from 12.2 million last year and the most-watched Series opener since the Giants' 11-7 win over Texas in 2010.

Wednesday's game peaked with 16.9 million viewers during the second inning, when the Red Sox scored twice and took a 5-0 lead.

The rating is the percentage of television households tuned to a program.