October 27, 2011 [LINK / comment]

World Series Game 6: rain delay!

The postponement of Game 6 due to rain might have taken away some of the momentum the Texas Rangers had built up after winning Game 4 and Game 5, but it might also have prolonged the high anxiety of the St. Louis Cardinals. (See below.) The game is in the top of the third inning right now, all tied up, 2-2. The Rangers scored one run in the first, just like in the game on Sunday night, but unlike that game, the Cardinals bounced right back with a two-run homer by Lance Berkman. Then the Rangers score one more in the top of the second with a ground rule double by Ian Kinsler. Looks like it's going to be one hell of an exciting game, sports fans! Time to crack open a cold one and relish the drama at the end (?) of a wonderful postseason.

Actually, I'm kind of hoping the Cardinals win tonight, because that would force a Game 7. Believe it or not, the last time the World Series went a full seven games was in 2002, when the Angels beat the Giants. But since the Rangers have never won a World Series, my sympathies are leaning slightly in their favor. In fact, the Houston Astros have never become world champions either, meaning that Texas is one of the very few MLB states who have yet to attain that high honor.

Failure to communicate

In my last blog post, I made note of Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa's postgame comment that there had been a "mixup," declining to say anything further. I only caught the tail end of that, so I mistakenly inferred he was talking about the hit-and-run situation in which Allen Craig was thrown out at second. Actually, the problem was a breakdown in the bullpen telephone system, or maybe just crowd noise, but whatever the cause, when LaRussa called for a relief pitcher, the only guy who had warmed up was left-hander Marc Rzepczynski. LaRussa wanted right-hander Jason Motte to go against the right-handed batter Mike Napoli, and this mixup may have helped Napoli hit that go-ahead double. The whole incident threw the usually-confident Cardinals off stride, and might end up affecting the outcome of the World Series. See Washington Post.

Tony LaRussa

Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa, in RFK Stadium August 4, 2007. (The Washington Nationals beat the Cardinals that day, 12-1!)

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 21:46 PM
Man, this game sure is riveting! Rangers took a 3-2 lead, then the Cardinals came right back and tie it. Both teams have committed errors, a sign of jangled nerves, exhaustion, or both. Whoa -- ANOTHER error, as third baseman David Freese dropped a pop fly! And then an RBI double by Michael Young to retake the lead Top of the fifth, one on, one out, 4-3 Rangers.

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 22:19 PM
How is it possible that the Rangers only have a one-run lead even though they have five more hits than the Cards (8 vs. 3), and with two fewer errors (1 vs. 3)? Well, that bunt-into-double play by Colby Lewis is a big part of it. And why did Ron Washington have Lewis bat with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth?

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 22:22 PM
Error by first baseman Michael Young lets Matt Holliday reach base. Two on, one out. Ron Washington keeps Colby Lewis on the mound...

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 22:26 PM
Ball four! Bases loaded, one out in the bottom of the sixth. Ogando comes in from the bullpen to replace Lewis. This is the Cardinals' big chance.

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 22:32 PM
Ball four again! The game's tied, 4-4, but that could change quick. Or maybe not. Beltre tagged Holliday out at third. (Or did he?) Two outs!

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 22:38 PM
Ball four again, and bases loaded again!! Ogando gets replaced by Derek Holland, usually a starting pitcher. It's going to be a battle of bullpens that will decide Game 6.

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 22:40 PM
Jon Jay grounds out to the pitcher to end the inning. Rangers dodge a bullet. Score after six innings is 4-4.

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 22:43 PM
I do NOT believe it. Adrian Beltre hits a leadoff homer to retake the lead, and take back the precious momentum from the Cardinals.

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 22:45 PM
Ditto Nelson Cruz, solo shot to the third deck in the left field corner. I REALLY do not believe this.

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 23:04 PM
Two singles and a wild pitch by Lynn give another run to the Rangers, who now lead 7-4 at the seventh-inning stretch. Lots of worried faces in St. Louis...

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 23:09 PM
Is this Albert Pujols' final at bat as a Cardinal? I sure hope not. Ground out to shortstop to end the seventh inning. Score still 7-4.

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 23:23 PM
Allen Craig (subbing for Matt Holliday, who hurt a finger when he was tagged out at third) hit a solo home run to narrow the gap. It's now 7-5, with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, and Yadier Molina just singled to right, forcing Derek Holland out of the game. It's not over yet!!!!

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 23:29 PM
Jon Jay singles to right, after an infield hit by Descalso, loading the bases!

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 23:30 PM
Rafael Furcal grounds out to the pitcher to end the inning. The End seems near...

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 23:45 PM
Neftali Feliz strikes out Ryan Theriot, one out in the bottom of the ninth. Albert Pujols then doubles to deep left center on the first pitch, getting at least one more chance to help save the Cardinals.

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 23:51 PM
Feliz walks Berkman, and then strikes out Craig, caught looking. Two outs. The former Washington Senators are one out away from their first WS win!

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 23:54 PM
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! David Freese triples, scoring two runs to tie the game 7-7. Best WS game EVER!!!

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 27, 2011 23:58 PM
Nelson Cruz barely manages to catch a line drive to right field by Yadier Molina, sending the game into extra innings. Home team's back in the driver's seat!

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 28, 2011 00:03 AM
Josh Hamilton hits a two-run homer to retake the lead in the top of the tenth. What an incredible see-saw battle!!! I'm running out of superlatives to describe it all.

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 28, 2011 00:16 AM
And the Cardinals bounce right back, with runners on 2nd & 3rd and one out in the bottom of the tenth, score 9-7. Another at bat for Pujols coming up?

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 28, 2011 00:21 AM
Theriot grounds out, a run scores, they walk Pujols, so with two outs, it's all up to Lance Berkman.

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 28, 2011 00:24 AM
BERKMAN DID IT!!! RBI single to Tudor, 9-9, and Pujols is on third base.

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 28, 2011 00:28 AM
Ground out sends the game into the 11th inning. (Don't ask me how "Tudor" got into that previous comment. Auto spell check is one of the few annoyances with the iPad, which has proven very handy this evening.)

COMMENT by: Andrew Clem, of Staunton, VA on Oct 28, 2011 00:43 AM
David Freese homered to center field in the bottom of the 11th to win the greatest World Series game ever. Cardinals 10, Rangers 9. One for the record books. IS THIS A GREAT GAME, OR WHAT!!?? See you tomorrow night, sports fans!