St. Louis Cardinals Win 2011 World Series
By Editorial Staff
The St. Louis Cardinals used the momentum gained from Thursday’s historic comeback to power past the Rangers in last night’s deciding game seven. St. Louis downed the Rangers 6-2, claiming their 11th World Championship in franchise history. Coming within outs of their first title, the Rangers instead become the first team to drop back-to-back World Series’ since in the Braves accomplished the ominous feat in the early 1990’s.
Early on, the Rangers showed that they were able to get back up off the mat after Thursday’s debacle. Texas scored two runs in the 1st on doubles from Josh Hamilton and Michael Young.
Fans began to wonder if Cardinals’ manager Tony La Russa’s decision to pitch Chris Carpenter on short rest was a wise one. The right-hander surrendered three hits and a walk in his first frame.
Carpenter and St. Louis would quickly quell the worries of their fans. The Cardinals put up a two spot of their own in the bottom of the 1st. Game six hero David Freese drove in Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman with his RBI double to center, tying the game at two.
It was the first of what would be six unanswered runs posted by the Cardinals. Carpenter was fantastic considering he had pitched just four days prior. St. Louis’s ace would give up only three more hits over his final five innings of work. Carpenter finished the night having allowed two runs on six hits and two walks in six innings.
Allen Craig, filling in for the injured Matt Holliday, continued his postseason homer-fest. Craig gave the Cardinals the lead for good with his solo shot in the 3rd. Of his five World Series hits, three were home runs.
An ugly 5th inning broke things open for the Cardinals as a pair of runs scored on a walk and hit by pitch. That inning, St. Louis did their damage without collecting a hit. Scott Feldman and C.J. Wilson combined to walk three batters and hit two others.
The final run of the 2011 season was scored in the 7th, as Yadier Molina’s single up the middle brought home Berkman.
St. Louis’s pen switched back to its previously dominant self, contributing three perfect frames to end the game.
Freese, the hometown hero, took home World Series MVP honors. The third baseman set a postseason record with his 21 RBI’s.
With the victory, St. Louis finished their unexpected 2011 run with the club’s second World Series title in six years. The Cardinals, who scratched and clawed their way into the postseason, came out on top of four elimination games this postseason, including last night’s deciding game seven.
For more on the Rangers and Cardinals, be sure to check out Nolan Writin’ and Redbird Rants.