from the red sox are speaking out about how the bombings affected them and how survivors inspired them. >> like star pitcher jon lester who spoke with cnn's rachel nichols. >> reporter: every year, someone wins the world series. but this year, it felt like a whole city won it, and it's not just because this is boston, a place where everyone's thrilled, that the baby's first word is sox. but in the wake of the horrific bombings that ripped the city apart, it was the red sox who gave people something to rally around, gave them a place to gather and cheer and hug. this season, fenway wasn't just a ballpark. it was a grass green runway for the wounded to strut. some on their prosthetic legs and show the world that they might have been knocked down, but they weren't knocked out. i spoke to red sox's jon lester the day after the team won the world series, and he explained how the survivors had become the team's inspiration. >> i think it kind -- it motivates you a little bit, as