Wong: 'I knew I was dead' in Game 4 blunder

(SportsNetwork.com) - Kolten Wong felt his foot slip as he scrambled back to the bag.

"I knew I was dead," Wong said.

The Cardinals rookie was on as a pinch-runner in the ninth inning Sunday night when he was picked off by Red Sox closer Koji Uehara to bring a sudden end to Game 4 of the World Series.

St. Louis slugger Carlos Beltran, he of the 16 career postseason home runs, was up as the tying run and had a 1-1 count when Uehara caught Wong too far from the bag.

Uehara delivered the ball in a perfect spot -- low in front of the bag -- and first baseman Mike Napoli tagged Wong on the right elbow.

The Red Sox won the game 4-2 to tie the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

Wong was brought in after Allen Craig, hobbled by an injured foot, hit a ball to the right field wall that might have been a double if he could run at all.

Wong said he was just setting up his lead when he saw Uehara turn.

"My foot slipped," said Wong, "and I was done."

It was the first World Series game to end with a pickoff and came one day after the first walk-off obstruction call in the history of the Fall Classic -- Saturday night's instant-classic ending when Will Middlebrooks was called for blocking Craig's path to home plate, giving St. Louis the win.