Anyone who doubted that this World Series was going to reach Game 7 just didn't understand—it was always in the Cards.
This is what baseball fans live for. Quite simply, there is nothing like it in sports. After a 162-game season, after playoffs that kept cardiologists on speed dial, and after six World Series games that put the "classic" in Fall Classic, it all comes down to one last game. No time limit. And like a party at Charlie Sheen's house—everyone is available. (Honestly, it would not surprise me to learn that Nolan Ryan secretly put himself on the Texas roster just in case the team needs him to fire up the Ryan Express one more time and face a few batters.)
And unless you're an actual Rangers or Cardinals fan, it almost doesn't matter who wins tonight. Both teams deserve it and both have shown they will fight right up to the last out. Hell, the last strike. Twice.
As befits a series like this—with more lineup changes than the previews of Spider-man: Turn off the Dark — there will be three of us liveblogging in the Busfield Dome tonight. (And we have installed extra phone lines just to make sure that when Tony La Russa calls, the right man is at the keyboard.)
So sit back, fire up the defibrillator, and welcome to Seventh Heaven.
First pitch is at 8pm ET. Between now and then we will have David Lengel's pregame predictions and Tony La Russa obsessions, the lineups, the Star Spangled Banner, and more. You could also catch up with the incredible drama of St Louis Carrdinals vs. Texas Rangers Game Six - as it happened.
Joy for the Cardinals, dejection for the Rangers after Game 6. Who will be celebrating tonight? Photograph: Matt Slocum/AP
Patrick Conway was pacing up and down his Upper West Side apartment after midnight this morning, tightly grasping a baseball bat, screaming repeatedly, "This is what it's all about! This is what it's all about!" Conway was not alone, as baseball fans all over the planet jaws dropped over and over again while watching Game Six of the World Series, and the St. Louis Cardinals dramatic, extra-inning, double-comeback from the brink, that saw them somehow defeat the Texas Rangers, 10-9, forcing a deciding seventh game.
Patrick, a lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates added, "The only thing that would be better than this is if it were the Bucs." Sports fans know when they are seeing something great, a moment, or in the case of last night, several moments, that's bigger than team loyalties. It didn't matter which ballclub you rooted for while the Cardinals and Rangers were putting on one of the most improbable shows in the history of a very old game, it just mattered that you were watching it happen. Game Six was the reason we are sports fans, and now, there's a Game Seven to boot.
Tonight the season has gone as far as it can go. With little chance for rain tonight, we will watch new World Series champions celebrate on the diamond. Will it be the Texas Rangers, who have no rings to show for the franchises first 50 seasons? Or the St. Louis Cardinals, the Yankees of the National League, who have appeared in 18 Fall Classics, winning ten titles.
Thanks to the rain that put off Game Six for a day, St. Louis can hand the ball to their ace Chris Carpenter, who will go to the hill with just three days rest. The Rangers ask Matt Harrison, a 26-year-old with less of a household name to bring it home for the title starved Rangers. There's a lot of talk about Texas and their streak of 46 games without two consecutive losses. My take on that is, eventually, heads or tails pops up consecutively, but all shall be revealed tonight.
As one fan recently tweeted "If Game Seven is even a quarter as good as Game Six, we're in for a hell of a treat."
This baseball season has been a journey of discovery, as the Guardian's new US-based sports blogs editor. I've loved baseball for a long time, spent a few summers in California, mostly watching the Dodgers, and then arrived in New York in September just as the season reached it's climax. And what a climax. Liveblogging four different games at the same time was quite an experience, but not as much of an experience as it must have been playing in those games, supporting those teams, hearing those runs being scored elsewhere.
And then came the postseason. David, Michael and I have shared the blogging. While the Arizona Diamondbacks are not a storied franchise or, perhaps even much loved team, I have fond memories of their 2001 World Series victory. I think of Michael and David as Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling (don't ask me to say which is which), pitching on short to no-rest to beat the Yankees. Which, I guess, makes me Byung-Hyun Kim. David and Michael will be sharing the liveblogging duties tonight. I will be in the bullpen, cropping pictures, collating tweets, emails and comments, doing techy stuff and generally enjoying the finale to what has been a great World Series.
Lineups and National Anthem coming shortly. First pitch is at 8pm ET.
TEXAS RANGERS
1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Elvis Andrus, SS
3. Josh Hamilton, CF
4. Michael Young, 1B
5. Adrian Beltre, 3B
6. Nelson Cruz, RF
7. Mike Napoli, C
8. David Murphy, LF
9. Matt Harrison, LHP
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
1. Ryan Theriot, 2B
2. Allen Craig, LF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Lance Berkman, RF
5. David Freese, 3B
6. Yadier Molina, C
7. Rafael Furcal, SS
8. Skip Schumaker, CF
9. Chris Carpenter, RHP
Chris Daughtry performs the national anthem tonight and I, for one, am still bitter that he only finished fourth in his season of American Idol.
.
Beloved Cardinal Bob Forsch is throwing out the first pitch tonight. Call me crazy, but for a Game 7 of the World Series, shouldn't that honor have gone to Stan the Man? Or another Bob—Gibson?
We're minutes away from the first pitch here in the BusfielDome (where corporate naming rights are still available) and all three of us will be liveblogging tonight. Michael gets the start, but David is already warming up in the bullpen.
Kinsler leads off with a single into left. And we are underway...
And within seconds of getting to first Kinsler is picked off by Yadier Molina. So much for early momentum. One out.
Josh Hamilton hits an RBI double off Chris Carpenter to give Texas the lead Photograph: Rob Carr/Getty
Elvis Andrus walks and that brings Josh Hamilton to the plate. And Hamilton drills it to right, bringing Andrus all the way around from first.
Rangers 1 - Cardinals 0
With Hamilton on second, Michael Young singles to right as well, and Hamilton scores easily. (Tim McCarver lets us know that Carpenter tried to "fist" him, but it didn't work. Keep it clean, Tim, there are kids watching.)
Rangers 2 - Cardinals 0
Beltre strikes out and Cruz grounds out to third, and Carpenter is out of the inning. But the Rangers did what they needed to do tonight—strike early.
Rangers 2 - Cardinals 0
Theriot grounds out to start the inning as the camera pans to the Cardinals hitting coach Mark McGwire. I like McGwire but, honestly, how is he allowed to wear a baseball uniform when Pete Rose is not? Having Big Mac be a major league coach is like having Bernie Madoff prepare your taxes.
Allen Craig flies out to center and Albert Pujols walks, bringing one of last night's heroes, Lance Berkman, to the plate. Matt Harrison throws seven straight balls in this inning and walks Fat Bearded Elvis, and that brings the Busch crowd to its feet as David Freese steps in.
With two out and men on first and second, Mr. Freese delivers yet again! He hits two-run double to left and this game is tied. Doesn't he know he doesn't have to come through like that until the bottom of the ninth?
David Freese is just an RBI machine. Photograph: Rob Carr/Getty
And C.J. Wilson is already warming up in the Rangers bullpen...
Rangers 2- Cardinals 2
Yadier Molina comes to the plate with Freese on second and he drives it deeeeeeeep to center. Hamilton goes back...and makes a leaping catch!
I don't know about his sports hernia, but mine is achy after that inning...
What a series.
Rangers 2 - Cardinals 2
Mike Napoli leads off the 2nd with a single to left. If the Rangers win this Series, there's no doubt in my mind that Nap-O-li is the MVP. He's come up big at the plate and in the field, but beyond all of that, he stayed in Game 6 last night despite freakishly twisting his ankle at second base. Seriously, look at that photo. I don't even understand the physics of it.
Murphy dribbles it back to Carpenter and he gets the lead runner at second. Matt Harrison lays down a very nice bunt and moves Murphy over to second. Two outs. Ian Kinsler walks and Molina tries to pick him off again—but Pujols can't hold on to it. It's a tough error for Pujols, but it doesn't affect the inning as Andrus grounds out to end the top of the 2nd.
Rangers 2 - Cardinals 2
Daniel York emails: "Tim McCarver. Ugh. What a moron. Thankfully we are spared him on the ESPN America broadcast which takes the international feed. Though instead we get Rick Sutcliffe who is even worse than I remembered."
Can we all lay off McCarver—at least until Game 8?—he's a pro. And has two fans here in the BusfielDome.
Furcal, who was dropped to seventh in the batting order tonight, leads off the inning with a single up the middle. Harrison does not look good tonight. But the defense picks him up as Schumaker hits into a verrrrrry close double play. And Carpenter strikes out to end the inning.
Rangers 2 - Cardinals 2
From below the line, DumbfoundedByIdiocy says: "Prediction for tonight's game? Given how this series has gone I'll say the Royals."
Very bold prediction. David Lengel wants a piece of that bet.
Josh Hamilton grounds out to short. Apparently he didn't consult with God about that at bat. Michael Young strikes out and Beltre is hit by a pitch. With two outs, Nelson Cruz steps in and flies out to end the inning.
Rangers 2 - Cardinals 2
Graham Randall emails: "Sat in Columbus Ohio (home of the SAW champions ) watching the game on Fox. Remember watching on channel 5 late on the night etc etc. This is magnificent theatre. Will have to say the Stanley Cup game 7 beats it but...I wish McCarver would shut up. Francona was a great earlier on."
Stanley Cup? It's a pretty trophy and all...but a shame they don't play hockey anymore. (Oh wait, I've just been informed that there is still a NHL.)
Allen Craig solo HR gives the Cardinals their first lead of the night Photograph: Ezra Shaw/Getty
Theriot flies out to lead off the inning, bringing the man with the soap opera name, Allen Craig, to the plate. And he crushes it over the right field fence! Another opposite field home run for Craig.
Rangers 2 - Cardinals 3
@WrightyUtd_15 tweets: |Has there ever been a world series where both catchers deserve mvp? Molina's been godly. Nap-o-li even better."
Good question. The first Series that came to mind was 1975 with Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk. And David Lengel recalls that Yogi Berra and Roy Campanella were pretty good back in the day.
Pujols hits a foul ball down the first base line...but Michael Young can't handle it. But it doesn't cost the Rangers—Albert grounds out to third. Two outs. Berkman rips it to first but Michael Young redeems himself and fields it on a fly.
But the Cardinals have drawn blood again.
Rangers 2 - Cardinals 3
Jim Bach emails: "As someone supporting the Cards in this series, my fear was that their
pitching wouldn't be a match for the Rangers' batting, but possibly
the opposite is the case. At any rate, great drama, and what an
exhibit of our national past time." And he adds to the catchers as MVP discussion: "Don't forget 1972, when Bench was in his pomp and Gene Tenace had several home runs for the A's."
I can still picture the Big Red Machine going up against the A's in yellow and green. That was really the traffic light series.
Nap-O-li strikes out to start the inning and Murphy grounds out to second. With two out, Harrison comes to the plate. So apparently Ron Washington still has faith in him. For some reason. But it's not because of his prowess at the plate. Harrison strikes out to end the inning.
Cardinals 3 - Rangers 2
Mr. Freese leads off the inning and he grounds out. Well, every at-bat can't be heroic. Molina singles to left and Furcal singles to right as well. First and second, one out. It's remarkable that Harrison is still in this game. He has not looked strong all night. Schumaker shatters his bat as he hits in down the first base line, but Young handles it easily. Two outs but the runners move over one. Chris Carpenter comes to the plate and flies out to right. Harrison gets out of the inning, but how much longer can Washington keep him in?
Cardinals 3 - Rangers 2
So here's a question for everyone...Besides the Cardinals, name a current major league team with three letters on its cap. Email or tweet us with your guesses. (And as a bonus question, name defunct MLB teams with three letters on the cap.)
Ian Kinsler leads of with another single that just sneaks past Mr. Freese at third. Andrus bunts Kinsler over to second. One out with the tying run at second. That brings Josh Hamilton to the plate. (I still can't get over that God told him he would hit a home run last night but failed to mention that they would lose the game. Next time, he should ask God for the W instead of the HR.) And Hamilton pops out in foul territory as David Freese falls over the railing to make the catch. Mr. Freese has really done it all. If the Cards win tonight, how is he not the MVP? And Michael Young goes down swinging to end the inning. That's five strikeouts for Carpenter tonight.
Cardinals 3 - Rangers 2
And, oh, what's that? Busfield has made a call to the bullpen and I am being relieved. Time for the showers. David Lengel is doing some yoga poses and will be in for the bottom of the fifth.
Thanks Michael, phenomenal job in the clutch. Downward dog done, ready to go here in the Bottom of the fifth inning. So is Scott Feldman, fresh off letting in the big runs in last night, he's back to exact his vengeance on the Cards. Cardinals 3 Rangers 2
That man Freese again - he catches Hamilton in foul territory Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters
.
Ryan Theriot eases in Feldman, grounding to Andrus. One down for Craig, who has the home run who gave the Cards the lead. No long-balls this time, but there is a walk. That means Prince Albert is up with a runner on, big time stuff here. Cardinals 3 Rangers 2
They're pitching to Pujols, which they have to do with a runner on and Berkman on deck and just one down. Feldman just nicks his jersey with the pitch, and Pujols is on with a gift. Now there's two on and one out for the grand Puma. Tough play on a slow rolling grounder that Young picks up at first at tosses to Feldman for the out. So the runners advance with two down, and here's that Freese again. They'll put him on and load them up for guess who...Molina. Cardinals 3 Rangers 2
So here is Molina in a huge spot in this ballgame. The Cards can really open it up, and with Carpenter starting to feel it, that's not good news for the Rangers. Cardinals 3 Rangers 2
God walks. The inning goes wrong for Texas Rangers relief pitcher Scott Feldman Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters
Feldman runs the count to 3-0 before getting a strike. Then Feldman paints the corner with another strike, but Molina thinks it's ball four and starts heading to first. Not so fast there catch. He comes on back for another pitch, and this time it's ball four! Pujols comes home on what looked like a strike. Home plate umpire Jerry Lane may have gotten that high stakes pitch wrong. Cardinals 4 Rangers 2
That's it for Feldman, Washington comes an gets him. Cue the organ. Cardinals 4 Rangers 2
CJ Wilson is in, and straight away, hits Furcal, and Freese comes into score! As Buck keeps reminding us, the ball has not left the infield. This is a mini-meltdown in the biggest of spots. Cardinals 5 Rangers 2
It could have been a lot worse, but Wilson gets Schumaker on strikes, side retired. Out of nothing, the Cardinals are gifted two runs as we head to the 6th. Cardinals 5 Rangers 2
Carpenter back out and looking very Carpenterish. He has overcome whatever was giving him difficulty early on, and now has this game firmly in his grasp. Beltre taps to Carp, who throws to first, one down. Next up is Cruz who is ROBBED OF A HOME RUN. Allen Craig made it look like a walk in the park, effortless, smooth, leaping up and making the catch in left field. What a play from Craig who has certainly left his mark on the series. Cardinals 5 Rangers 2
After Cruz is robbed, Napoli lines sharply to right, inning over. That's a big run that Craig caught. Cardinals 5 Rangers 2
Let's start off by answering that trivia question. The question was, which team besides the Cardinals has three letter on their hat. The answer is the Chicago White Sox, but honorable mention to the Montreal Expos (RIP) who also had three letters. Liam Roberts and someone called Smikwi also nailed it. Good work. Now, back to this little game going on here.
Carpenter stays in the game, of course, leading off the Cards half of the sixth with a ground out. Then Theriot lines out to center. Two quick outs for Wilson who faces the fielding star of the inning, Allen Craig. Can the catch translate with the bat? No. Craig swings and misses, and into the seventh we go. Gulp. Cardinals 5 Rangers 2
Texas begins their seventh with a knock. David Murphy smashes a double. Here comes La Russa to get Carpenter who leaves the mound for the final time in 2011 to a standing ovation, and for now, has a three run lead. Cue the organ. Cardinals 5 Rangers 2
The ageless Arthur Rhodes is in to face Yorvit Torrealba who skies to center for out number one. Here comes La Russa to get his LOOGY. Cue the organ. Cardinals 5 Rangers 2
Elvis Andrus reacts with fury after he flys out Photograph: Rob Carr/Getty
.
Octavio Dotel is in to pitch. He's got Kinsler to contend with, with a man on and one out. He smokes one past the Rangers second baseman. Two down, and the inning is up to Andrus, who hits a routine fly ball to center to end the scoring threat. Cardinals 5 Rangers 2
Michael says: Throughout the postseason, I have made the case that "God Bless America" is far superior to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Tonight, in honor of Game 7, I'm bringing out the big gun—Kate Smith herself. And not just any Kate Smith version, the very first time Irving Berlin's anthem was performed.
Try playing that last note on your teeth, Lengel.
Here's David's choice:
.
So I get to write this for what seems like the millionth time in the last two days. Albert Pujols is at the place for what could be his final at-bat as a St. Louis Cardinal. I guess at some point it will be right, kind of like my spelling of Jaime Garcia (nailed it!). So it's Mike Adams pitching for the Rangers, and he's able to strike out Pujols in what could be his final at-bat as a St. Louis Cardinal. Cardinals 5 Rangers 2
Look at Lance Berkman, streaking down the line like a puma chasing a zebra in the savannah. He really moved there on a slow roller up the middle. He's safe at first, and the Cards have a runner on with one down for Freese. Cardinals 5 Rangers 2
Freese draws a walk, so now there's two on and one out, and the rally squirrel is out in St. Louis. The Texas Rangers haven't showed the balls of the Cardinals, and if they fall further behind, they don't have it in them to come back. That makes these outs huge. Cardinals 5 Rangers 2
God strikes! His base hit off the mound brings Berkman around to score, and I have no doubt that no one has ever seen Berkman run this fast in his life, guaranteed. Cards are breaking away here. Cardinals 6 Rangers 2
Still just one out with two on.The Rangers bullpen really were amazing vs. Detroit, I mean nasty, dangerous folk. It couldn't be more different here. Furcal, who had a single earlier, bounces out, moving the runners over for Schumaker, who will face a new pitcher. Washington is out. Cue the organ. Cardinals 6 Rangers 2
Here's Michael Gonzalez, who strikes out Schumaker. Inning over, another run in. Do you think Texas has the starch to make a game of it? It would take a Cardinal like comeback. Cardinals 6 Rangers 2
The Cards are six outs away from an 11th World Series title, and Lance Lynn is in to pitch for the home town team. He faces Josh Hamilton, who wishes one to the left side, which Furcal gathers and fires over to Pujols at first. One down. Next is Young, who pops up weakly to Pujols. Two down. The Rangers are falling fast here. Beltre's home run in Game Six was supposed to be the difference last night, but instead, it was just a footnote to one of the greatest games in baseball history. He swings and misses and this inning is over. We head to the bottom of the eighth with the Cards in control. Cardinals 6 Rangers 2
Ah, here's Little Nick Punto who gets a taste of Game Seven action, pinch hitting for Lynn. He drives one to center, one away. Theriot is down on strikes looking, and Gonzalez has been perfect thus far. Makes you wonder why we didn't see more of him. Just a small sample of course. Craig is up, and the trainers rush out to take a look at Gonzalez after he loses his balance. Cue the organ, Washington is taking him out. Ogando, whose name is now Fucking Ogando in Texas, is trotting in. Cue the organ. Cardinals 6 Rangers 2
Alexi Ogando is in for one pitch. It's a strike to Craig. Inning over. This is it, the final chance for Texas. Is it title time on the banks of the Mississippi? Cardinals 6 Rangers 2
Jason Motte is on to seal the deal for the Cadinals. It's a quick first out, Nelson Cruz pops out. Cardinals 6 Rangers 2
There's lots of shots of Nolan Ryan in the crowd, looking very surly indeed, not to mention a few shades lighter. Cardinals fans are a touch more elated than the Ryan, who is on the brink of watching his franchise lose back-to-back World Series. Mike Napoli, so impressive this series, bounces harmlessly to third base. Two down. No one on. One last out for an improbably title for the Cards. Cardinals 6 Rangers 2
Jason Motte, Yadier Molina and the St Louis Cardinals win the World Series Photograph: Rob Carr/Getty
David Murphy flies out to right field. THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS ARE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!
The confetti falls from the upper decks of Busch Stadium, the Cards pile onto one another, the celebrations begin. At this time last night, we were writing obituaries for St. Louis, and 24 hours later, they are the champs. Tony La Russa has guided this ball club back from 10.5 games out of a playoff spot on August 25th, to unlikely victories over the Phillies and the Brewers. Then they are down to their final strike twice in Game Six, rally to victory, and then shut out the Rangers for eight straight innings tonight. No idea how they did it, but they did it, and what else can you do but watch and wish it was your team. Final score: Cardinals 6 Rangers 2
Now that we've confirmed that Tony La Russa is indeed a mad scientist whose taken over the baseball world, we await word on the MVP winner. It has to be Freese right?
Tony La Russa is flashing the hardware to the crowd after giving a really, really, really long speech to the crowd. He can do anything he wants of course.
It's David Freese, the home town hero, who lifts the World Series MVP award, hitting .348 and doing just about everything at exactly the right time for his Cardinals. So that's it. It's all over. All we can do now is sit around, get blown off the Brooklyn Bridge on the way to work in 20 degree weather, and wait patiently for pitcher and catchers to report in February. That caps off what has been an amazing month of playoff baseball, one of the most exciting set of post-season games we've seen in some time. Michael, Steve and myself have had a blast following the action with you. Thanks for reading, see you in April. Until then, from our Brooklyn basement HQ, good night.
