St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright wipes his face as he pitches to Boston Red Sox's Mike Napoli during the second inning of Game 1 of baseball's World Series Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, in Boston.

BOSTON — Carlos Beltran waited 16 years to make it to the World Series.

He lasted a little more than an inning.

Beltran was injured in Game 1 against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night when he crashed into the bullpen wall to deprive David Ortiz of a second-inning grand slam. The play turned a homer into a sacrifice fly — saving three runs but costing the Cardinals Beltran’s services for the rest of the game, and maybe longer.

“Obviously, he’s sore,” designated hitter Allen Craig said. “But hopefully he can get back tomorrow.”

Beltran finished out the half-inning, rubbing his sore side, but he came out after that and was taken to a hospital for X-rays and a CT scan. The tests were all negative and Beltran will be evaluated daily, manager Mike Matheny said.

“He’s a huge player for us,” said starting pitcher Adam Wainwright. “Everybody knows that. We all know that.”

Beltran batted .296 with 24 homers and 84 RBIs in the regular season and has 12 RBIs in the playoffs this year. An eight-time All-Star, he hit .337 with 16 homers and 37 RBIs in 45 career postseason games that tied a record for a player before his first World Series appearance.