Matt Magoon
Sports Editor
The 2011 Major League Baseball season has finally come to a close with the St. Louis Cardinals on top. After making a late playoff run and eventually forcing a seventh game at home, the Cardinals managed to defeat the Texas Rangers. However, this World Series win came with a great amount of drama in the final game.
After splitting the first four games 2-2, the Rangers went ahead in the series 3-2 in the fifth game, causing a must-win situation for the Cardinals. Game turned out to be one for the ages.
After the fifth inning, the Rangers were leading the Cardinals 4-3, but at this point, things were only beginning to heat up. The Cardinals came back to tie the game at four, only to give up three runs in the seventh inning, making the game and the season look as if they had finally met their end.
Lo and behold, the Cardinals scored in the eighth inning, making the game seem as if it was within reach for the bottom of the ninth.
With the crowd roaring behind them and their backs against the wall, the Cardinals managed to tie the game in the ninth inning at 7-7. With two outs and two strikes against him, David Freese of the Cardinals hit a clutch two-RBI triple against Rangers closer Neftali Feliz.
In extra innings, the Cardinals put themselves in a hole again, allowing a two-run homer from Josh Hamilton.
In the bottom of the tenth inning, the Cardinals fought for two more runs. Once again, the baseball gods were on St. Louis’ side as they pushed the game into the eleventh inning.
Finally, after keeping the Rangers scoreless in the top of the eleventh, David Freese came through in the clutch once again, with a walk-off home run to force a game seven.
In game seven, both teams came out strong with two runs right away. The Cardinals scored thanks to, who else, but David Freese, on a two-run double in the first. However, Texas also scored in the first inning off of RBI doubles from both Josh Hamilton and Michael Young. The Cardinals did not give up another run the entire game, whereas Texas allowed four more runs, resulting in a 6-2 win for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals starting pitcher, Chris Carpenter, received his second win of the playoffs.
On the other side of the mound, Matt Harrison tallied his second loss of the playoffs for the Texas Rangers.
This game marked the first World Series since 2002 that went to a decisive game seven. Overall, this was a tremendous year for baseball and it was fitting to end it in such dramatic fashion.
The drama for the St. Louis Cardinals has not ended with the finishing of the season. Tony La Russa, the Cardinals manager, retired after 33 years of managing teams such as the Chicago White Sox, The Oakland Athletics, and the St. Louis Cardinals.
La Russa collected 2,728 victories in his long career, almost surpassing John McGraw, the current manager in second place for all-time wins.
The well-seasoned manager leaves the St. Louis Cardinals with a decision that he claims he made last August. He hopes to “either own a minor-league team or open a bookstore.” Tony La Russa is a living baseball legend that will be greatly missed.