The comeback ‘Cards hand Rangers second-strait Series defeat

On a cold Friday night at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, the St. Louis Cardi­nals defeated the Texas Rangers in seven games for their 11th franchise World Series champi­onship title in one of the most exciting World Series playoffs in recent memory. It was the first time since 2002 that a World Series playoff match-up had reached a seventh game.

The Rangers, who appeared in the 2010 World Series against the San Francisco Giants, were defeated for the second straight season, failing once again to capture their first-ever champi­onship title.

The series was groundbreaking from the get-go, and featured some of the best hitters Major League Baseball had to offer. Free-agent-to-be Albert Pujols of the Cardinals and the ever-dangerous Josh Hamilton of the Rangers were just some of the household names featured in these two powerhouse rosters, which made for an even more exciting World Series match-up. After trading wins in the first four games, the series head­ed to Texas for game five. After a few mix-ups from the Tony La Russa and the Cardinals bull­pen, the Rangers made them pay two-run eighth inning to take the lead and eventually the win, putting them up three to two in the series. This late game flop between La Russa and his pitchers, which ultimately cost St. Louis the game, will no doubt go down into history as one of the most odd things to happen in a World Series play­off game.

The oddities continued into game six. After being down the entire game, Cardinals third baseman and series hero David Freese tied the game at seven to seven in the bottom of the ninth inning with a two RBI triple, forcing the game to go into extra innings. Texas regained the lead with a Josh Hamilton two-run homer at the top of the extra innings, but RBIs by Car­dinals Berkman and Ryan The­riot tied the game once again, and the game headed to a 12th inning. Freese finally broke the game with a solo walk-off home run shot dead into centerfield. The series was now tied three to three, Texas had let a game they should have won slip by, and once again the Cardinals had all the momentum, which they carried into game seven in St. Louis, where they completed the mini comeback in dramatic fashion in front of a rambunc­tious hometown crowd.

With a second ring on his fin­ger, Pujols has an even tougher decision facing him this offsea­son than originally anticipated. Much has been made of his pending free agent status this winter, as speculation has sur­rounded as to whether Pujols will return to the only city he has ever known as a ball player or opt for a massive contract elsewhere. Also, the Cardinals could end up being even more dangerous next year, seeing as they went the entirety of the 2011 season without their ace Adam Wainwright.

As questions surround the Pujols's future, the same can be said for the entirety of the Rangers squad. CJ Wilson is the only major contributor that could depart this winter, which would surely leave their rota­tion lacking a major asset. The possibility is strong this Texas team could turn into the Buf­falo Bills of the 1990s, who lost four Super Bowls and still have yet to recover.

But with two straight World Series losses the question re­mains, can this Rangers team ever get over the hump and fi­nally win their first ever World Series ring?