BOSTON -- St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Carlos Beltran waited 16 years to play in a World Series game but lasted just two innings once he finally got there, departing with a right rib contusion early in Game 1 on Wednesday night at Fenway Park.

Carlos Beltran suffered a rib contusion after robbing David Ortiz of a grand slam in the first inning of Game 1. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

In the bottom of the second inning against the Boston Red Sox, Beltran slammed into the right-field wall while making a spectacular catch to rob David Ortiz of what would have been a grand slam. The eight-time All-Star finished the frame but was rubbing his right side and disappeared down the tunnel to the clubhouse with a trainer between innings.

He was taken to the hospital, and Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said following the Red Sox's 8-1 win that X-rays were negative and that Beltran is day to day.

The Red Sox had the bases loaded and a 4-0 lead when Ortiz stepped to the plate, due in large part to a slew of defensive miscues by the Cardinals. But Beltran provided the one highlight for St. Louis to that point by drifting back on Ortiz's shot and seemingly nonchalantly reaching up to snag the ball before it settled into the bullpen, simultaneously smacking into the short wall.

Jon Jay took over in center field to start the bottom of the third for the Cardinals. Shane Robinson moved from center to right.

Beltran, an eight-time All-Star, batted .296 with 24 homers and 84 RBIs in the regular season.

He entered hitting .337 with 16 homers and 37 RBIs in 45 career postseason games. He also had scored 44 runs, stolen 11 bases and compiled a .724 slugging percentage.

Beltran had 12 RBIs in the NL playoffs this year. He struck out in his only at-bat Wednesday night.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.