Boston catcher Jason Varitek’s ability to get lower than hard-charging Cardinals base runner Chris Duncan at home plate kept yesterday’s game tied at 3-3 in the top of the 13th inning.

The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy

BOSTON — On a day of excellent scoring chances that fizzled, one bone-jarring play at the plate stood out.

In the top of the 13th, the St. Louis Cardinals’ burly Chris Duncan was at second base with one out and the score tied at 3-3.

Adam Kennedy smacked a hard single to right field off Boston Red Sox reliever Javier Lopez. J.D. Drew put a hard charge on the ball, fielded it cleanly and threw a one-hop strike to catch Jason Varitek.

Duncan, meanwhile, was waved around by third-base coach Jose Oquendo, even though Duncan is no speedster.

The ball beat Duncan by several steps, which was a good thing for Varitek because the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Duncan had only one chance to score, and that was to run over the Red Sox captain and knock the ball from his grasp.

But because the ball had arrived in plenty of time for him, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Varitek was able to brace himself and get lower than Duncan, avoiding the full force of what would have been a heavyweight collision.

Duncan applied a hard hit on Varitek, who managed to hang onto the ball as Duncan flew over him. The out at the plate kept the game tied at 3-3, and in the bottom of the inning, Kevin Youkilis’ two-run homer won the game for Boston.

While Youkilis was mobbed by the media after the game, the play at the plate drew its share of attention, too.

“The ball had enough on it when it was coming out to me that it came up to me and I had a nice run at it,” said Drew. “I didn’t know if they’d send him. I was surprised to see him going. The ball came up for Tek and got there in enough time so he could get low and brace himself. And duck under (Duncan).”

Varitek appreciated the split-second he had to get ready.

“You’re not in the best position back there on that kind of play. You have to take your lumps,” said Varitek. “J.D. made a great throw. The ball beat (Duncan). All he could do was try to knock it out and I had to get low. I got hit pretty good, but I’m all right.”

Lopez was asked about the play.

“The only contribution I had was that the ball was hit so hard it got to him (quickly),” said Lopez with a wry smile. “Then he made a perfect throw. J.D. came up big.”

“J.D. made a perfect throw,” said St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa.

skrasner@projo.com