Chris Carpenter dives for the bag beating out Elvis Andrus. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Allen Craig’s RBI single, that fell in front of Rangers RF Nelson Cruz, in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs, gave the Cardinals the lead and eventual 3-2 win in Game one of the World Series over Texas.
Chris Carpenter picked up the win pitching six innings. He allowed a two run homer to Mike Napoli in the fifth that tied the game up a 2-2. The Cardinals grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Lance Berkman singled home Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday on a bouncing ball that shot high down the right field over and past first baseman Michael Young.
La Russa and Carp on pitching in the cold (:40)
Texas starter C.J. Wilson was charged with all three runs and took the loss. Carpenter was lifted for Craig in the sixth inning, who was down in the count 1-2 on Alexi Ogando who blew two, 97 mph fastballs passed a hard swinging Craig. The next pitch was belt high, outside part of the plate and Craig went with the pitch.
Allen Craig on his pinch hit (:37)
Texas had a chance in the seventh. With Fernando Salas in the game, Cruz and Napoli reached base on a one out single and walk. Tony LaRussa went to Mark Rzepczynski who struck out pinch hitter Craig Gentry and former Royal Esteban German to get out of the jam. Rangers’ manager Ron Washington called that the ballgame.
Washington on Rzepczynski (:35)
Perhaps an even bigger play came in the sixth inning when the Rangers advanced a runner to third with two outs. Michael Young hit a hot smash down the first base line that Albert Pujols dove to his left to stop. He actually finished in foul territory. He made a good throw to Carpenter to just get Young and save the go-ahead run from scoring. That set the scene for Craig’s heroics.
LaRussa on Pujols and Craig (1:03)
Game two is Thursday night with Jaime Garcia facing Colby Lewis.
