Top

World Series Game 1

October 20, 2011 by · Comments Off on World Series Game 1 

World Series Game 1World Series Game 1, Nobody plays a hunch, like Tony La Russa. This is not October, anyway. The manager of San Luis, once again, looked like a genius, especially when Allen Craig as a pinch hitter for the ace Chris Carpenter and a single advantage that sent the Cardinals past the Texas Rangers 3-2 on the night of Wednesday in the first World Series game.

Craig cutting blow in the sixth inning came inches in front of sliding right fielder Nelson Cruz. A game that was tight throughout the night cold and wet.

“Man, it’s hard,” said Craig, strong relief pitcher Alexi Ogando. “He came to me with fastballs, and I missed the first two. After one last time I was trying to get the barrel on it, make the defense make a play. Fortunately, he kept right, and Cruz did a great attempt to. It was a great all-around play. ”

It was an ideal match for the National League style – lots of bunts, intentional walks and pitching changes. And in a postseason in which he made all the right moves, 67 years old, La Russa was on top of his game.

After pulling Carpenter, La Russa convinced three scoreless innings of bullpen depth. Five relievers did their jobs with the closure of Jason Motte for his fifth save of the postseason.

A day earlier, Texas, Ron Washington said jokingly: “I think I can live according to the combination of ingenuity, Tony La Russa.” Who can, these days?

The Cardinals won even without his squirrel Rally. There were no sightings of the elusive creature still roaming Busch Stadium – a good thing for rodents, too, because La Russa probably would have figured out a way to catch it.

Game 2 is Thursday night, starting Jaime Garcia cards from Colby Lewis. Texas has not lost consecutive games since August.

This was the first time in Texas had played in St. Louis. However, Josh Hamilton, Rangers Cruz and big puncher resembled the team that failed at the plate in the World Series last year against San Francisco.

Each team finished with six hits. The wildcard Cardinals just do more with them.

Lance Berkman of St. Louis took the lead with a two-run single in the fourth. Mike Napoli drew a two-run homer in the fifth.

Carpenter won his eighth postseason, breaking the team record he shared with Bob Gibson. Of course, all the victories Gibby was in the World Series.

“The tent, he did what he usually does,” said Craig. “He was our leader out there tonight.” I went there and throw punches, got early outs, and we took tonight. It was great. ”

Carpenter helped with a clever game in the first inning, diving to catch a throw from first baseman Albert Pujols and label the bag with his glove. La Russa did not argue when he takes – all well acquainted card to doubt the intelligence of La Russa.

Cardinals relievers Fernando Salas, Marc Rzepczynski, Octavio Dotel, Arthur Rhodes and Motte finished.

CJ Wilson fell to 0-5 in his postseason starts last seven years, dating back to last year.

Texas left-hander recently spent 2 ½ minutes in a cryotherapy chamber Dallas, where the liquid nitrogen temperature down to 295 degrees below zero, trying to speed the recovery of the body. It was a little more heat in the stadium, at 49 degrees for first pitch.

Wilson became the first pitcher to lose an All-Star game AL division series, a championship game of the series and a World Series game in the same year, said STATS LLC.

In a postseason start in St. Louis and Texas have fought and carpenter Wilson each pitched well enough. Both remain in the bottom of the sixth when the steering wheel began to spin.

Was 2 to all when the Rangers threw all eighth-place hitter Nick Punto with a four-pitch walk to put runners on the corners with two outs. La Russa did not hesitate and took Carpenter, sending the versatile Craig.

Washington replied, pulling Wilson and bring Ogando. All pieces in place, it was time to play – and what followed was the play of the game.

Craig opened through two lines, then click on a cutting unit to the right field line. Cruz tried to make a sliding catch, except the ball bounced just before it reached him and turned over his left leg for a single. The coup marked NL championship series MVP David Freese, St. Louis area star of preparation that was opened with a double.

Napoli kept his slugging season, reaching a two-run homer in the fifth inning he made two, everything. He had entered the game 3 for 3 lifetime against Carpenter and had been the only home run hitter from Texas to him, but recovered in a double play with two runners on their first turn. He retaliated with a belt unit contrary to law.

Traded twice in one week last winter, Napoli flourished in Texas, leading Tampa Bay, Joe Maddon said to the “Year of Napoli” in the American League playoffs.

The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead in the fourth after Pujols hit – or was beaten by the launch, with more precision. The star of St. Louis was hit in the left leg to start the inning, Matt Holliday sliced ??a double and Berkman crushed a two-run single by first base line.

Players, officials and technicians needed a little time to work out the kinks.

Freese was Ian Kinsler eye opener grounder off his glove at third base for one, and looked at the glove that betrayed him. In the next inning, Adrian Beltre doubled off leather Freese.

Ron Kulpa third base umpire lost his first round in a series. He ruled Pujols liner caught Beltre to third when the ball actually bounced in the opening inning.

And there was a technical problem when “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery began to sing the national anthem. The microphone did not work and got a replacement. The delay came with Michelle Obama and Jill Biden stands on the mound to honor military veterans. The first lady’s husband was in the same place to throw the first pitch at the 2009 All-Star Game.

NOTES: It was 49 degrees at first, tied for third coldest opener majors since record keeping began in 1975 temperature. … This was a game the Cardinals 106th World Series, breaking a tie with the Dodgers and Giants for the second franchise in history. The Yankees lead with 225. … Garcia is 0-2 with a 5.74 ERA in three postseason starts. … Lewis is 4-1 in the postseason. His defeat was this year for Detroit in the ALCS. … The team that won the first game of the series in 12 of the last 14 years has come to take the crown. … This was the first Central Division vs. NL Central battle in the series since baseball went to six divisions in 1994. … Texas Star Michael Young had his 35th birthday. Cardinals infielder Daniel Descals turned 25. … NBA All-Star Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks is the winner of throwing the first pitch in Game 3.

Bottom