Friday, October 28, 2011 - World Series - Game Seven vs Texas Rangers at Busch Stadium III - Attendance: 47,399 - Starting Pitchers: Chris Carpenter vs Matt Harrison
After the Game Six miracle finish, the Cardinals could hardly wait to get back in action again - especially with their ace - Chris Carpenter - on the mound again. Prior to the start of this game, manager Tony LaRussa gave his players a bit of a motivational speech - making sure they were focused on the business at hand: Winning Game Seven and not dwelling on what transpired the previous night.
In the other clubhouse, Texas manager Ron Washington tried to rally his team, after that devastating Game Six loss, with a humorous, profanity-laced monologue designed to erase the memory of what happened - so they could focus on the business at hand: Trying to avoid losing Game Seven.
The Rangers got off to a fast start off Carpenter - when Ian Kinsler started the game with a single to left field. Then, with Elvis Andrus batting, Cards catcher Yadier Molina quickly noticed that Kinsler had strayed too far off the bag for his own good. A snap throw to Pujols ended Kinsler's brief stint on the bases. However, Carpenter was still having trouble with his command, as Andrus drew a base on balls - then back-to-back doubles by Josh Hamilton and Michael Young put Carpenter and the Cardinals in a 2-0 hole.
However, as quickly as Carpenter found himself in trouble, he found a way out - first, by striking out the dangerous Adrian Beltre, then by retiring Nelson Cruz on a ground ball to the legendary David Freese.
Although the Rangers had a couple of runs on the board, they certainly felt like they'd missed a chance for a really big inning - much like what happened the previous night - when they had so many chances to score runs in bunches - but just couldn't get the big hit when they needed it.
Little did they know, those two first-inning runs would be the extent of their offensive production in Game Seven.
The Cardinals evened the score in their half of the first. After a pair of two-out walks to Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman - David Freese did it again - sending the crowd into an early frenzy with a two-run double to left field - giving him five RBI in his last three trips to the plate - all extra base hits: Triple, home run and a double.
With the injured Matt Holliday out of the lineup, his replacement - Allen Craig - put the Cardinals on top to stay with a third-inning solo home run to right field: 3-2.
Two innings later, facing reliever Scott Feldman, Craig drew a one-out walk to start a two-run rally. Next up - Pujols - was hit by a pitch - putting runners on first and second for Berkman - who grounded out to the right side, advancing the runners to second and third. Feldman wanted no part of Freese, so he was given an intentional walk - to load the bases. Unfortunately for Feldman, he then issued an unintentional walk to Molina, forcing in Craig from third - scoring the fourth run of the game for St Louis.
In a desperate attempt to stop the inevitable, Washington brought in C.J. Wilson from the bullpen to face Rafael Furcal - but his first pitch was nowhere near the plate - instead,hitting Furcal on the leg - bringing home Wilson's future teammate Pujols with the fifth run of the game for the Redbirds.
It was still a 5-2 Cardinal lead when David Murphy began the seventh-inning with a ground-rule double off a tiring Carpenter. LaRussa made his first call to the bullpen - bringing in Arthur Rhodes to pitch to Yorvit Torrealba - as Carpenter triumphantly exited to a rousing standing ovation.
Rhodes got his man, giving way to Octavio Dotel, who retired both Kinsler and Andrus to end the threat.
Leading off the bottom of the seventh - facing reliever Mike Adams - was the great Albert Pujols - making his final plate appearance in a Cardinal uniform. After another standing ovation, an emotional Pujols swung at all five pitches thrown to him - striking out on the last one. Most of the fans at the ballpark probably expected to see Pujols return - certain their hero would be content to stay loyal to the only franchise he had ever been associated with. The fact that he left for more money than the Cardinals were willing to pay still bothers many fans - to the point of absurdity. Get over it. Just be thankful for the 11 Hall of Fame-caliber seasons he had in St Louis - and for the two World Series championships that never would have happened without his presence in the lineup. For example: This one.
After Albert retreated back to the dugout, Berkman reached on an infield hit to the shortstop - bringing Freese to the plate - and naturally, he was given nothing to hit - so he walked again. Molina then drove in the sixth and final run of the game - scoring Berkman from second on a base hit to center.
Meanwhile, Lance Lynn - who was hit so hard in Game Six - pitched a perfect eighth-inning - setting the stage for Jason Motte to close out this championship season with a flourish. He too, was perfect - retiring the last Ranger batter to get on base - Murphy - who led-off the seventh-inning with a double.
This time, Murphy's line drive to left was hauled in by a back-peddling Allen Craig - to cap off this improbable championship season for the Cardinals. As FOX broadcaster Joe Buck proclaimed, "What a team! What a ride! The St Louis Cardinals are World Champions!"
To no one's surprise, David Freese was voted World Series Most Valuable Player - but this was truly a team effort. Offensively, five players had MVP-worthy performances:
Berkman - .423/.516/.577 - 1 HR - 5 RBI
Craig - .263/.417/.737 - 3 HR - 5 RBI
Freese - .348/.464/.696 - 1 HR - 7 RBI
Molina - .333/.414/.417 - 0 HR - 9 RBI
Pujols - .240/.424/.640 - 3 HR - 6 RBI
Pitching standouts:
Carpenter - 2-0 - 19.0 IP - 2.84 ERA
Garcia - 10.0 IP - 1.80 ERA
Rhodes - 1.0 IP - 0.00 ERA
Rzepczynski - 2.2 IP - 0.00 ERA
Westbrook - 1-0 - 2.0 IP - 0.00 ERA
Had the Rangers managed to win the World Series, Mike Napoli would have surely been MVP with these numbers: .350/.464/.700 - 2 HR - 10 RBI
Interestingly, in the stolen base department, the Cardinals were 0 for 3 - the Rangers were 1 for 3 (Kinsler's ninth-inning theft of second base in Game Two - which helped Texas win by a 2-1 score).
Otherwise, Freese's Game Six walk-off home run would have been a World Series ending walk-off home run - joining Bill Mazeroski and Joe Carter in that elite category.
Finally, this would prove to be LaRussa's last game as manager of the St Louis Cardinals. He was at the helm for the greatest resurgence in franchise history - which has continued with his successor - the most frequently second-guessed manager in franchise history - Mike Matheny - at the helm.
2015 should be an interesting and challenging season - and since it's an odd-numbered year...
Showing posts with label 2011 World Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2011 World Series. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
October 22, 2011 - The Albert Pujols 3-HR Show
Saturday, October 22, 2011 - World Series - Game Three - at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington vs Texas Rangers - Attendance: 51,462 - Starting Pitchers: Kyle Lohse vs Matt Harrison
Albert Pujols had grown weary of the relentless media criticism regarding his poor performance in the first two games of the World Series - especially after Game Two's loss to the Rangers, which was greatly facilitated by Pujols' ninth-inning error - resulting in the game-winning (unearned) run crossing the plate.
And oh, by the way, "Why aren't you getting any hits, Albert?"
To the casual observer - which includes the vast majority of media covering this Fall Classic - Pujols was clearly in a slump. Well, after going 0 for 4 in Game Two, Albert's postseason slash line had dropped all the way down to .367/.456/.633. That's quite a slump.
Truth is, the Cardinals were well aware that letting Game Two get away from them could have dire consequences - especially, if they also happened to lose Game Three in Arlington, Texas.
Fortunately, Game Three got off to a nice start, with a one-out first-inning solo home run off the bat of Allen Craig - earning a spot in the starting lineup after delivering two run-scoring pinch hit singles in each of the two previous games. He now had three hits and three RBI in his first three World Series AB's. Meanwhile, after Albert Pujols came up empty again in his first plate appearance, he was now 0 for 7. But that would change after his next trip to the plate.
The Cardinals were still clinging to that precarious 1-0 lead when Pujols got his first World Series hit - leading-off the fourth-inning with a line drive single to left field. The Cardinals then got a huge break when Matt Holliday's double-play grounder to shortstop Elvis Andrus was lackadaisically turned by second baseman Ian Kinsler. His throw to first baseman Mike Napoli pulled him off the bag, forcing him to tag Holliday on the shoulder to complete the double play. Napoli did just that, but first base umpire Ron Kulpa blew the call.
Instant replay hadn't been implemented back in those days, so there was nothing anyone could do except maybe argue, kick some dirt, shout profanities, carry the first base bag back to the dugout, shout some more profanities, kick some more dirt, and get two or three players tossed out of the game. But that didn't happen, either.
Now, instead of two out and nobody on, the Cardinals had a sheepish Holliday (who obviously knew he was out) on first with just one out. That's the kind of situation good teams capitalize on.
Next up - Lance Berkman lined a single to right, advancing Holliday to second. Next up - the hottest hitter on the planet at this time - David Freese - poked an outside fastball down the right field line for a double - scoring Holliday with a gift run, as Berkman stopped at third.
With first base open, Harrison walked Yadier Molina intentionally, to set up the double play. Jon Jay appeared to oblige with a routine grounder to Napoli at first, but his throw to home sailed past catcher Yorvit Torrealba - allowing both Berkman and Freese to score two (official) unearned runs. On the play, Molina raced to third and Jay found himself standing on second base.
Another unearned run scored on Ryan Theriot's base hit to left - but that would conclude the scoring for now. Harrison would be removed from the game after getting another out, as Scott Feldman took over for a while. When the fourth-inning was in the books, the Cardinals had a comfortable 5-0 lead.
However, Kyle Lohse suddenly ran afoul in the Rangers' half of the fourth-inning. Michael Young got Texas on the board with a lead-off home run. Adrian Beltre followed with a single to left, which was followed by a Nelson Cruz home run, which was followed by a Mike Napoli single to center.
Following all that, Lohse was relieved of his duties by Fernando Salas who retired David Murphy on a tap just in front of home which Molina grabbed and fired to Pujols for out number one.
However, Torrealba singled to right field, advancing Napoli to third. At this point in the game, it seemed the Cardinals were in danger of blowing the lead - which was now just a two-run advantage.
However, when Ian Kinsler lifted a fly ball to Matt Holliday in medium left, near the line, Napoli gambled, tagged up from third, but was nailed at the plate on a strong throw by Holliday. Just like that, the inning was over, as St Louis was still clinging to a 5-3 lead.
With Feldman still on the mound for Texas to begin the fifth-inning, Pujols greeted him with a lead-off single to center. After both Holliday and Berkman walked to load the bases, Freese moved all runners up a notch with an RBI ground out to third. Molina then raked a two-run double to left to regain that original five-run lead they had just an inning before. It was now 8-3 - but not for long.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Rangers knocked Salas out of the game with consecutive singles by Andrus and Hamilton, and an RBI double by Young.
Lance Lynn was the next reliever out of the Cards bullpen, and he was greeted with a run-scoring single by Beltre, cutting the deficit to 8-5 - still nobody out, with runners on first and third. Lynn then struck out the menacing Cruz - representing the tying run - on some high heat, for the first out of the inning. Napoli's sacrifice fly to right scored Young - then back-to-back walks to Murphy and Torrealba loaded the bases for Ian Kinsler in what was now a tight 8-6 game.
With the partisan Texas crowd raising all kinds of commotion, Lynn got Kinsler out on a pop fly to shortstop Furcal to end the nerve-wracking inning.
With the flame-throwing Alexi Ogando now pitching for the Rangers to start the sixth-inning, Theriot drew a lead-off walk, then advanced to second on Rafael Furcal's single to right. Next up - Allen Craig - who had burned Ogando with run-scoring pinch hits on successive nights, to give the Cardinals the lead each time - didn't fare so well this time around - striking out on a high fastball.
Pujols was now batting - and he was ready for the fastball - crushing it deep to left field for a three-run home run. FOX broadcaster Joe Buck commented, "That ball was absolutely murdered!"
After St Louis added another unearned run (error, single, walk to load the bases) on Molina's sacrifice fly, they were finally in control of this wild game - leading, 12-6.
Pujols was just getting warmed up. With Mike Gonzalez now mopping up for Texas in the seventh-inning, he managed to walk Craig with two out and nobody on. By this time, the crowd was fascinated with the show Pujols was staging. As if on cue, he launched one out to left center field - a two-run home run: 14-6.
After Texas pushed across their final run in the bottom of the seventh, St Louis added one more in the eighth - on a run-scoring double by Molina - his fourth RBI on the night: 15-7.
The stage was set for Act III. With two out in the top of the ninth, veteran lefty Darren Oliver served one up to Pujols - which was deposited in the left center field bleachers, for his third straight home run - his fifth straight hit. Joe Buck acknowledged that Pujols had tied Reggie Jackson with that third home run, but he failed to mention the first guy to do it: Babe Ruth (1926 vs the Cardinals).
Meanwhile, Buck's loquacious broadcast partner, Tim McCarver gushed, "Wow! That's a wow!"
After Mitchell Boggs' anti-climactic 1-2-3 ninth-inning of work, the Cardinals had won the pivotal Game Three to take a two games to one lead in this amazing World Series. Final score: 16-7.
Only the 1936 New York Yankees - Game Two vs New York Giants - scored more than the Cardinals did tonight - with 18 runs.
The combined two-team total of 23 runs scored is the third highest in World Series history. '93 World Series - Game 4: Toronto 15 - Philadelphia 14 (29 runs), followed by '97 World Series - Game 3: Florida 14 - Cleveland 11 (25 runs).
Lance Lynn (2.1 IP - 3 H - 1 R - 2 BB - 2 SO) recorded his second postseason win in '11.
Pujols was out of his slump: 6 AB - 5 H (3 HR) - 4 R - 6 RBI.
The Cardinals would return home to Busch Stadium after dropping the next two games in Texas - trailing three games to two in the series. Game Six would be played on October 27...
Albert Pujols had grown weary of the relentless media criticism regarding his poor performance in the first two games of the World Series - especially after Game Two's loss to the Rangers, which was greatly facilitated by Pujols' ninth-inning error - resulting in the game-winning (unearned) run crossing the plate.
And oh, by the way, "Why aren't you getting any hits, Albert?"
To the casual observer - which includes the vast majority of media covering this Fall Classic - Pujols was clearly in a slump. Well, after going 0 for 4 in Game Two, Albert's postseason slash line had dropped all the way down to .367/.456/.633. That's quite a slump.
Truth is, the Cardinals were well aware that letting Game Two get away from them could have dire consequences - especially, if they also happened to lose Game Three in Arlington, Texas.
Fortunately, Game Three got off to a nice start, with a one-out first-inning solo home run off the bat of Allen Craig - earning a spot in the starting lineup after delivering two run-scoring pinch hit singles in each of the two previous games. He now had three hits and three RBI in his first three World Series AB's. Meanwhile, after Albert Pujols came up empty again in his first plate appearance, he was now 0 for 7. But that would change after his next trip to the plate.
The Cardinals were still clinging to that precarious 1-0 lead when Pujols got his first World Series hit - leading-off the fourth-inning with a line drive single to left field. The Cardinals then got a huge break when Matt Holliday's double-play grounder to shortstop Elvis Andrus was lackadaisically turned by second baseman Ian Kinsler. His throw to first baseman Mike Napoli pulled him off the bag, forcing him to tag Holliday on the shoulder to complete the double play. Napoli did just that, but first base umpire Ron Kulpa blew the call.
Instant replay hadn't been implemented back in those days, so there was nothing anyone could do except maybe argue, kick some dirt, shout profanities, carry the first base bag back to the dugout, shout some more profanities, kick some more dirt, and get two or three players tossed out of the game. But that didn't happen, either.
Now, instead of two out and nobody on, the Cardinals had a sheepish Holliday (who obviously knew he was out) on first with just one out. That's the kind of situation good teams capitalize on.
Next up - Lance Berkman lined a single to right, advancing Holliday to second. Next up - the hottest hitter on the planet at this time - David Freese - poked an outside fastball down the right field line for a double - scoring Holliday with a gift run, as Berkman stopped at third.
With first base open, Harrison walked Yadier Molina intentionally, to set up the double play. Jon Jay appeared to oblige with a routine grounder to Napoli at first, but his throw to home sailed past catcher Yorvit Torrealba - allowing both Berkman and Freese to score two (official) unearned runs. On the play, Molina raced to third and Jay found himself standing on second base.
Another unearned run scored on Ryan Theriot's base hit to left - but that would conclude the scoring for now. Harrison would be removed from the game after getting another out, as Scott Feldman took over for a while. When the fourth-inning was in the books, the Cardinals had a comfortable 5-0 lead.
However, Kyle Lohse suddenly ran afoul in the Rangers' half of the fourth-inning. Michael Young got Texas on the board with a lead-off home run. Adrian Beltre followed with a single to left, which was followed by a Nelson Cruz home run, which was followed by a Mike Napoli single to center.
Following all that, Lohse was relieved of his duties by Fernando Salas who retired David Murphy on a tap just in front of home which Molina grabbed and fired to Pujols for out number one.
However, Torrealba singled to right field, advancing Napoli to third. At this point in the game, it seemed the Cardinals were in danger of blowing the lead - which was now just a two-run advantage.
However, when Ian Kinsler lifted a fly ball to Matt Holliday in medium left, near the line, Napoli gambled, tagged up from third, but was nailed at the plate on a strong throw by Holliday. Just like that, the inning was over, as St Louis was still clinging to a 5-3 lead.
With Feldman still on the mound for Texas to begin the fifth-inning, Pujols greeted him with a lead-off single to center. After both Holliday and Berkman walked to load the bases, Freese moved all runners up a notch with an RBI ground out to third. Molina then raked a two-run double to left to regain that original five-run lead they had just an inning before. It was now 8-3 - but not for long.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Rangers knocked Salas out of the game with consecutive singles by Andrus and Hamilton, and an RBI double by Young.
Lance Lynn was the next reliever out of the Cards bullpen, and he was greeted with a run-scoring single by Beltre, cutting the deficit to 8-5 - still nobody out, with runners on first and third. Lynn then struck out the menacing Cruz - representing the tying run - on some high heat, for the first out of the inning. Napoli's sacrifice fly to right scored Young - then back-to-back walks to Murphy and Torrealba loaded the bases for Ian Kinsler in what was now a tight 8-6 game.
With the partisan Texas crowd raising all kinds of commotion, Lynn got Kinsler out on a pop fly to shortstop Furcal to end the nerve-wracking inning.
With the flame-throwing Alexi Ogando now pitching for the Rangers to start the sixth-inning, Theriot drew a lead-off walk, then advanced to second on Rafael Furcal's single to right. Next up - Allen Craig - who had burned Ogando with run-scoring pinch hits on successive nights, to give the Cardinals the lead each time - didn't fare so well this time around - striking out on a high fastball.
Pujols was now batting - and he was ready for the fastball - crushing it deep to left field for a three-run home run. FOX broadcaster Joe Buck commented, "That ball was absolutely murdered!"
After St Louis added another unearned run (error, single, walk to load the bases) on Molina's sacrifice fly, they were finally in control of this wild game - leading, 12-6.
Pujols was just getting warmed up. With Mike Gonzalez now mopping up for Texas in the seventh-inning, he managed to walk Craig with two out and nobody on. By this time, the crowd was fascinated with the show Pujols was staging. As if on cue, he launched one out to left center field - a two-run home run: 14-6.
After Texas pushed across their final run in the bottom of the seventh, St Louis added one more in the eighth - on a run-scoring double by Molina - his fourth RBI on the night: 15-7.
The stage was set for Act III. With two out in the top of the ninth, veteran lefty Darren Oliver served one up to Pujols - which was deposited in the left center field bleachers, for his third straight home run - his fifth straight hit. Joe Buck acknowledged that Pujols had tied Reggie Jackson with that third home run, but he failed to mention the first guy to do it: Babe Ruth (1926 vs the Cardinals).
Meanwhile, Buck's loquacious broadcast partner, Tim McCarver gushed, "Wow! That's a wow!"
After Mitchell Boggs' anti-climactic 1-2-3 ninth-inning of work, the Cardinals had won the pivotal Game Three to take a two games to one lead in this amazing World Series. Final score: 16-7.
Only the 1936 New York Yankees - Game Two vs New York Giants - scored more than the Cardinals did tonight - with 18 runs.
The combined two-team total of 23 runs scored is the third highest in World Series history. '93 World Series - Game 4: Toronto 15 - Philadelphia 14 (29 runs), followed by '97 World Series - Game 3: Florida 14 - Cleveland 11 (25 runs).
Lance Lynn (2.1 IP - 3 H - 1 R - 2 BB - 2 SO) recorded his second postseason win in '11.
Pujols was out of his slump: 6 AB - 5 H (3 HR) - 4 R - 6 RBI.
The Cardinals would return home to Busch Stadium after dropping the next two games in Texas - trailing three games to two in the series. Game Six would be played on October 27...
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