Thursday, October 27, 2011

We're Gonna Have a Game 7!!!

What just happened? Somehow tonight's epic Game 6 morphed from one of the worst played World Series games in recent memory, if not ever, to one of the best games in the history of baseball. A game that featured 5 errors, botched sacrifice bunts, baserunning gaffes, 12 walks and 2 wild pitches somehow turned it around and from the 7th inning on was just non-stop excitement. Tony Larussa used 22 of the 25 players on his roster and the Cardinals came up with runs in the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th innings to somehow give us a Game 7 in what can only be described as one of the most exciting World Series of my lifetime. Let's try and piece together what we just witnessed tonight as best we can:

*After the Rangers take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Lance Berkman changes the complexion of the game with one swing of the bat and puts St. Louis up 2-1 with a home run off of Rangers starter Colby Lewis.
Photo Credit: zimbio.com

*The Rangers of course battle back and who else but Mike Napoli knocks in the go-ahead run with an rbi single to bring home Nelson Cruz and give the Rangers a 3-2 lead in the top of the 4th.
Photo Credit: zimbio.com

*The two teams exchange runs to make it 4-3 Rangers when Alexi Ogando enters the game and is unable to find the strike zone forcing in a run with a bases loaded walk to tie the game at 4. But who comes to the rescue? That's right, Mike Napoli. This time it's his defense as he picks Matt Holliday off of third base and the Rangers escape the 6th inning still tied at 4.
Photo Credit: mlb.com

*Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz go back-to-back off of rookie Lance Lynn, and Kinsler brings home Derek Holland with an rbi single to give the Rangers a 7-4 lead in the 7th, just nine outs away from their first World Series Title.
Photo Credit: zimbio.com

*Allen Craig, who entered the game for the injured Holliday connects off of Derek Holland in the bottom of the 8th to make it a 2-run game. Craig has driven in runs in four of the six games, three times coming off the bench to do so.
Photo Credit: zimbio.com

*With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, facing closer Neftali Feliz, just one strike away from a Rangers win, David Freese triples over the head of Nelson Cruz in right field tying the game at 7 and forcing the game into extra innings.
Photo Credit: zimbio.com

*Cardinal closer Jason Motte has no better luck than Feliz as Josh Hamilton hits his first home run of the postseason to right center and puts the Rangers back up by 2 in the top of the 10th.
Photo Credit: zimbio.com

*Bottom of the 10th, following a Ryan Theriot rbi groundout to make it 9-8, the Cardinals go down to their final strike again. This time Lance Berkman singles to center off of Scott Feldman scoring Jon Jay from second base and tying the game back up at 9. The Cardinals just will not die.
Photo Credit: zimbio.com

*Bottom of the 11th, facing new pitcher Mark Lowe, Freese hammers a 3-2 pitch over the center field wall for a walk-off win, 10-9.
Photo Credit: zimbio.com

It was really just an unbelievable game, and now we get to be treated to a Game 7. All kinds of storylines to follow in this one. Nelson Cruz left the game with an injury in the 11th that he apparently suffered on David Freese's 9th inning triple, Mike Napoli hurt his ankle early in this one and while he stayed in the game there's no telling what he'll be available for tomorrow, Matt Holliday left with an injury, both closers allowed runs tonight, both bullpens are pitching on fumes, Chris Carpenter may get the start in Game 7 on short rest... I can't wait. I think it's going to be one for the ages, to cap off what has just been a tremendous World Series. The never-say-die Cardinals against the trying-to-win-their-first-title Rangers. Do not miss this game.

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