Redbirds Draw First Blood

Game 1 of the 2011 World Series is in the books, and St. Louis is one step closer to winning its second title in six seasons.  A significant step, mind you, considering Game 1 victors have gone on to win the Series nearly 80 percent of the time (19 of 23) since 1987 (thanks, Tom Verducci).

The game was played under less than ideal conditions, with the temperature hovering around 50 degrees on a damp, blustery autumn evening.  Staff aces C.J. Wilson and Chris Carpenter stifled enemy bats for the game's first third, hanging doughnuts on the scoreboard through the initial three and a half innings.  NL Comeback Player of the Year Lance Berkman broke up the pitcher's duel with a two-run single in the bottom half of the fourth, but Mike Napoli responded immediately with a two-run shot in the top of the fifth to tie the game back up.

Nelson Cruz attempts to catch Craig's sinking liner

The game wouldn't stay that way for long, though. In the bottom of the sixth, with two outs, runners on the corners, and Alexi Ogando on in relief of Wilson, the always-impulsive Tony LaRussa pulled his ace for a pinch hitter even though the 2005 NL Cy Young recipient had only tossed 87 pitches and probably had one or two more innings left in the tank.  In his place stood Allen Craig, the 27 year-old sophomore with exactly 127 major league games (postseason included) under his belt, who rewarded his skipper by slicing a go-ahead RBI single (a ball that Nelson Cruz could and should have caught, a la Carl Crawford's miscue that ended Boston's season exactly three weeks prior) to right field give St. Louis a lead they would not relinquish.  LaRussa would use five relievers from his hard-worked but effective bullpen to get through the next three innings, and the quintent neutralized the potent Texas lineup by not allowing any baserunners over the final eight outs.  Jason Motte closed the door in the ninth, setting down the heart of the order in Michael Young, Adrian Beltre and Cruz to secure the pivotal Game 1 triumph.

Interestingly, both teams stroked six hits, two for extra-bases, and their biggest stars were held in check.  Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday combined to go 1-6, while Young and Josh Hamilton went 0-8. The Rangers will need to win out in order to make my prediction (Texas in five) come true.  My fingers are already crossed.