ST. LOUIS (AP) – These idiots can play after all.

After winning two error-filled games in spite of themselves, the Boston Red Sox improved their defense and won pretty, for a change, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 to move within one victory of their first World Series title since 1918.

The Red Sox committed a record eight errors in the first two games and won them both anyway. Then they put a glove on designated hitter David Ortiz and moved Manny Ramirez from Fenway’s cozy and familiar left field to Busch Stadium’s spacious pasture.

Funny thing happened: They started playing better.

Ramirez threw out a runner at home (who shouldn’t have been running). Ortiz threw out a runner at third (who should have been going home).

Boston played error free on the field, and even the manager pitched in, taking Pedro Martinez out with a four-run lead after seven innings to avoid a repeat of last year’s Yankee Stadium debacle.

So, the stunning postseason run continues for a group of players who dubbed themselves the “idiots” because of their carefree style of play and dress.

The Red Sox led the league in unearned runs during the season, but the gap shrunk after they dealt a hobbled Nomar Garciaparra at the trading deadline and acquired former gold glovers Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz.

You wouldn’t have known it by watching them in the field in the first two Series games. Ramirez alone had two errors – on consecutive plays in the second game to allow the Cardinals to tie it.

But after homering in the top of the first in Game 3, Ramirez made a nice throw to the plate to cut down Larry Walker, who tagged up on a shallow fly ball to left. In the third, Cardinals pitcher Jeff Suppan reached on a swinging bunt and made it to third on Edgar Renteria’s double.

But when Walker hit a grounder to second, Suppan didn’t run home. Ortiz took the throw from second baseman Mark Bellhorn and seemed surprised to find Suppan halfway home.

Ortiz threw to third, and Bill Mueller applied the tag to complete the odd double play.

AP-ES-10-27-04 0001EDT