Even with a closer result in Game 2, the World Series continued to trend toward record lows.

Game 2 of the Cardinals/Red Sox World Series drew a 9.5 overnight rating on FOX Thursday night, up 8% from Tigers/Giants Game 2 last year (8.8), but down 5% from Rangers/Cardinals Game 2 in 2011 (10.0).

The 9.5 is the third-lowest overnight ever for Game 2 of the World Series, ahead of only last year and Phillies/Rays in 2008 (9.2). In addition, the 9.5 is the fifth-worst for any World Series game that did not take place on a Saturday night, ahead of only Games 1 and 2 of Tigers/Giants last year, Game 2 of Phillies/Rays in 2008, and Game 1 of this year’s series on Wednesday (9.4).

The last time the Red Sox were in the World Series (2007), Game 2 against the Rockies drew a 12.5 overnight. The last time the Red Sox faced the Cardinals (2004), Game 2 drew a 17.1 on a Sunday night.

This year’s Cardinals/Red Sox match-up is only the second World Series in history to earn a single-digit overnight for Games 1 and 2, joining last year’s Tigers/Giants series.

By comparison, the first two games this year’s Heat/Spurs NBA Finals earned overnights of 10.6 and 10.2.

A silver lining for FOX is that the Cardinals won Thursday’s game, tying the series at a game apiece. If the World Series is to average a double-digit final rating this year, a long series will likely be necessary.

(Thursday’s overnight from MLB_PR verified Twitter account)