AP Sports Writer

BOSTON - Dustin Pedroia hit a leadoff home run, Josh Beckett got off to the best World Series start since Sandy Koufax in 1963 and the Boston Red Sox led the Colorado Rockies 13-1 after five innings Wednesday night in Game 1.

The wild-card Rockies had won 21 of 22 games coming in, but they also had eight days off before this opener. Rather than being rested, Jeff Francis and Colorado looked rusty in the franchise's Series debut.

In a light to moderate rain, Red Sox hitters picked up where they left off after coming back from a 3-1 deficit to beat Cleveland in the AL championship series. In winning those last three games, they outscored Cleveland 30-5.

Pedroia, who homered, doubled and drove in five runs in Game 7 against the Indians, homered on Francis' second pitch to start a three-run first inning. Francis loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fourth with an intentional walk to Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek followed with a ground-rule double.

Franklin Morales came on in relief in the bottom of the fifth for Francis, who allowed six earned runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and three walks in four innings. Morales couldn't stem the bleeding for the Rockies, surrendering four runs on six hits with a walk in only 2/3 innings of work.

Boston tied a World Series record with eight doubles, three coming during a seven-run fifth inning in which Rockies reliever Ryan Speier walked the first three batters he faced after coming on with the bases loaded.

The Red Sox were playing in the Series for the second time in four years _ they ended an 86-year title drought in 2004. Curt Schilling, 10-2 with a 2.25 ERA in postseason play, starts Game 2 against Rockies rookie Ubaldo Jimenez.

Perhaps showing some signs of their layoff _ or maybe as much trouble hitting Beckett's fastball as the Indians did _ all three Rockies hitters struck out in the first on 97 mph pitches.

When ALCS MVP Beckett fanned Todd Helton in the second, the right-hander moved within one of the record for most strikeouts to start a World Series game. It was set by Mort Cooper of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1943 and tied by Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Beckett had eight strikeouts through the first five innings.

Koufax did it against the New York Yankees, striking out Tony Kubek, Bobby Richardson, Tom Tresh, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Garrett Atkins broke through for the Rockies with a high-fly double that hit about 30 feet up the 37-foot left field wall, but Beckett retired Brad Hawpe _ on another strikeout. Then Troy Tulowitzki doubled lower off the wall on Beckett's first pitch, cutting the lead to 3-1.