Cardinals Win Dramatic World Series Game 6

The St. Louis Cardinals came back four times to finally win in the 11th inning Thursday night. Lance Berkman had a huge hit and David Freese was the hero – twice.

INSIDE PITCH

Manager Tony La Russa still wasn't saying after the Cardinals' 11-inning, 10-9 Game 6 win Thursday night who would pitch the climactic Game 7 against Texas. But the choices seem to be, in order, Chris Carpenter and Edwin Jackson.

Carpenter, the staff ace who pitched seven good innings in Game 4, would be working on three days' rest. Jackson, who walked seven in 5 1/3 innings in Game 4 but gave up just three runs, would be on regular four days' rest.

Kyle Lohse, who actually laid down a key sacrifice bunt as a pinch hitter Thursday night, also is a candidate but seems to be third in the pecking order.

For much of Thursday night at Busch Stadium, it was more of a "fallen classic" than Fall Classic, with both the Cardinals and Rangers committing egregious errors. It evoked memories of how the Cardinals got 10 1/2 games in arrears in the wild-card race in late August.

But amid the miscues and bevy of home runs by the Rangers, Game 6 of the Series wound up with some tremendous drama and some intriguing strategy involved as this miraculous Cardinals team pulled out the win.

La Russa's managerial style was cramped by losing left fielder Matt Holliday with a bruised right pinky finger, suffered when he dived back into third base as he was picked off in the sixth inning.

That meant that Allen Craig, a star pinch hitter earlier in the Series, was unavailable to pinch hit because he had to go into left field for Holliday. Craig would smack his second World Series homer in the eighth to cut the Rangers' lead to 7-5.

Running low on players, La Russa adroitly got all his extra men in the game without running into a bad spot -- until the 10th. But even then, he came out all right because, after shortstop Daniel Descalso and Jay had singled, La Russa was able to use Lohse to bunt.

Lohse bunted over the head of third baseman Adrian Beltre, but Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus made the play and got Lohse at first, with the runners moving up. That bunt proved critical as Descalso was able to score on Ryan Theriot's tap to third.

After the predictable intentional walk to Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman re-tied the game with a single, and the game went into the 11th.

There was a glitch in that play, though. Jackson had been instructed to pinch hit in the 10th, but before La Russa could pull him back to have Lohse bunt, Jackson was announced and was lost for the game either hitting or pitching. Like many of La Russa's moves Thursday, it worked out in the end.

"Lohse is a better bunter," said La Russa. "They were lucky to get an out. He laid down one of the great bunts."

Earlier, La Russa had pinch-hit Descalso for pinch hitter Gerald Laird in the eighth when right-hander Mike Adams relieved, leaving him out of position players.

"We're behind," said La Russa. "You've got to take a shot. Descalso's got a better shot. You're going to save players and lose? Go into the clubhouse with guys (left)?

"The biggest thing that happened was that we lost Craig (as a pinch hitter) because Holliday got hurt. That was the only reason we were down at the end -- because we lost a player."

La Russa, like everyone else, was drained after the 4 hour, 33 minute marathon.

"But I'm on adrenaline," he said. "I'd have been more exhausted if we'd lost."

Boxscore

Related content at The Cardinal Nation Blog: "Cardinals World Series Game 6 and 7 factoids"

NOTES, QUOTES

3B David Freese, probably the Cardinals' most productive hitter of the entire postseason, was hitless in three at-bats and had missed a pop fly, costing the Cardinals a run, before his dramatic, two-strike, two-run triple in the ninth and his game-winning homer in the 11th. "I felt like I was part of a circus out there, bouncing balls off the top of my hat a little bit," he said. "It's incredible to be a part of this."

RF Lance Berkman had the other game-tying hit in the 10th as the Cardinals rallied for two runs in both the ninth and 10th before scoring once in the 11th. "I actually felt pretty good about it because I figured I was in a no-lose situation," said Berkman, smiling. "If you don't come through right there, it's only one at-bat and it's over with and they might talk about it for a couple of days but it's not that big a deal."

CF Jon Jay, who had been nothing for 14 in the Series and 8-for-51 in the postseason, didn't start for the second straight time, replaced by 2B/OF Skip Schumaker. Schumaker had a hit in three at-bats and Jay played a big part in the game, getting his first two Series hits in four at-bats.

LHP Jaime Garcia, who twirled seven shutout innings against Texas in Game 2, was yanked after three innings Thursday, having given up five hits and two walks, good for two runs.

BY THE NUMBERS: 15 - Walk-off homers in a World Series game after 3B David Freese homered to center to win Game 6 in the 11th inning.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We kept battling and sneaked this one out tonight."

- 3B David Freese after the Cardinals' improbable victory.

ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH:

LF Matt Holliday could be lost for Game 7 because of a severely bruised right pinky finger he suffered when he dived back into third base in being picked off in the sixth. The Cardinals are allowed to replace him on the roster and likely would choose rookie OF Adron Chambers if they have to replace Holliday.

RHP Adam Wainwright (Tommy John surgery in February 2011) went on the 60-day disabled list March 25. He will miss the entire 2011 season. Wainwright was getting closer to throwing a full-strength bullpen session in September, but he will not be allowed to throw his signature curveball until next year.

NEXT GAME – World Series Game 7

Fri., October 28: vs. RANGERS: Chris Carpenter, Edwin Jackson or Kyle Lohse vs. Matt Harrison, 7:05 P.M. CDT (FOX Network, ESPN Radio, KMOX).

VIDEO FROM FoxSportsMidwest.com and FOXSports.com

Tony La Russa finally gets his chance to manage Game 7 of the World Series thanks to a classic Game 6.

David Freese talks about his walk-off home run to win Game 6 in the 11th.

Lance Berkman, Allen Craig, Jon Jay, and Daniel Descalso talk about their thrilling Game 6 victory.

Albert Pujols, Jake Westbrook, and Skip Schumaker call Game 6 one of the best they've ever played in.

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=cccc4e19-ebb4-4ff9-abe5-359db247c8d9" target="_new" title="">World Series: Game 6 recap</a>
Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi recap Game 6.

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=dba0db51-7447-48bb-bce6-dd3b125b2224" target="_new" title="">World Series: Game 7 preview</a>
Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi preview Game 7.

Tony La Russa’s post-game comments (from MLB and ASAP Sports)

TONY LA RUSSA: Yeah, you know, we had some in that rush there, to go from way back, to get closer, and we had but that one, we had some like it but not like it, you know what I mean. What happened today, I just think it's -- you had to be here to believe it. We never quit trying. I know that's kind of corny, but the fact is we never quit trying. The dugout was alive even when we were behind, and sometimes it works.

Q. So you're ready to name Chris Carpenter as Game 7 starter?

TONY LA RUSSA: Just barely started to think about tomorrow, but actually it'll be fun to think about it now because there is a Game 7. Might just roll Jake back out there, who knows.

Q. You've been managing for 31 years. You're closing in on 70 years old. Have you ever seen anything remotely close to that?

TONY LA RUSSA: Well, I feel like I've managed about 50 years, but I feel like I'm only about 40. After a game like that you feel like just show up at the park some day and you won a game and you enjoy eating pizza or something.

Yeah, they asked me right away, I said something about Edmonds' home run in the Championship Series in '04. But no, when you're thinking -- in fact, I had to remind a couple times, they wanted us to say thanks to the fans if we got beat before the Rangers did the rings, so there was a couple times in the ninth and 10, I was forced with two outs, I was forced to say, go down to the bullpen, I told some of the guys, we've got to do the fans right. So we went from that to celebrating. That's a big emotional change.

Q. You've never had the opportunity to manage a Game 7 in the World Series. With having such a deep appreciation for the history of the game, what does that opportunity mean to you?

TONY LA RUSSA: Well, when you're a kid I had the very good fortune of being in the Championship Series, Game 7 against the Mets, and it's not the World Series, but believe me, it felt just as good. But when you dream, you dream about seventh game all the heroics.

There's a lot of reasons I'm really pleased. For one thing, even though it didn't look good, we competed better than to get bounced out in six. It's been an even series and now it's winner take all. There are a lot of guys in our club that are really enjoying the World Series, especially the first-timers or second-timers, and the experience of Game 7 is something they'll never forget. It's just as exciting as it's supposed to be, and I'm sure they'll represent, but we will represent ourselves well.

Q. Twice, the game was within one strike of Texas celebrating the World Championship. Did that ever creep into your mind that perhaps you guys weren't going to be able to do it this time?

TONY LA RUSSA: Well, I thought when you're down two runs to their closer in the ninth, I mean, this guy is a legitimate 1-2-3 and they're shaking hands. But what you try to do is get something started. You don't try to hit three-run home runs. Our club does a real good job of just trying getting something started, and once they get something started, the other club worries. Another mistake, this and that, I mean, we've been in the same situation ourselves. Once it got started it's much more fun to think, hey, we can do this, and then think, "Oh, (expletive), it's not going to work."

Q. The first part of the game Garcia struggled, you guys had errors all over the place on very makeable plays. It just seemed like it was not going to be your night. At what point did you realize, maybe we can pull this thing out?

TONY LA RUSSA: Because of the score. The one thing with Jaime, he didn't have his normal stuff. There was no use to push it. But what was the score all along? It wasn't a perfect game defensively for both of us, and sure, we botched a couple of fly balls that led to runs, but as long as the score is -- it was close until they scored the three. But as soon as the guys came off the field, I heard it ten times, nine outs. So I mean, the guys were into it. That's what happens when you give yourself a shot. Hard way to go, I would prefer not to do it this way.

Q. Any update on Holliday?

TONY LA RUSSA: Well, we thought at first he had fractured it, but I was told by the trainer Greg later on that it's not a fracture, but I think it's swelling, and he's got a pretty good bruise there. So it may be we need to replace him for tomorrow.

Freese

Lance Berkman and David Freese post-game comments

Q. Have you ever been part of a game like this tonight?

LANCE BERKMAN: The only thing that comes close is that 18-inning game we played against the Braves in the '05 NLDS, and we won that also on a walk-off by Chris Burke. I mean, to be able to do it twice against a tough closer, it's just -- it's special.

Q. Is there a way to put into words to have the season riding on your shoulders with one strike left, and then to hit the tying single there?

LANCE BERKMAN: I actually felt pretty good about it because I figured I was in a no-lose situation. If you don't come through right there, it's only one at-bat and it's over with, and they might talk about it for a couple days, but it's not that big a deal. If you come through, it's the greatest, and plus you've built a little bank account of being able to come through, so that if I don't come through tomorrow I can be like, "Well, I came through in Game 6, what do you want from me?" (Laughter).

Q. David, obviously the first part of the game defense wasn't a specialty for you guys. To come back and be such a pivotal part to the victory, how does that feel?

DAVID FREESE: It feels good. You know, I felt like I was part of a circus out there bouncing balls off the top of my hat a little bit. But man, I just wanted an opportunity to we tied that up, we had some good ABs and we tied it up and just kept battling. That defines our team, that game, the way we just kept coming back. We've been doing that for a long time, and this guy next to me, from day one, has taught me so much as far as just how to go about this game. It's incredible to be a part of this.

Q. Can you describe the range of emotions? You mentioned the ball bouncing off your head. Go from that moment when you were standing alone, the ball bounces off your head on the field to the heroics later on.

DAVID FREESE: When things like that happen, you've got to understand that it's not the first time and it's not the last. I mean, that's the way I kind of view stuff like that. It was earlier in the game and I knew we were going to have plenty of opportunities to bounce back, and when things like that happen, you've just got to stay focused. That's what this game is about. There's so many different ways to win a ballgame, and we kept battling and sneaked this one out tonight.

Q. David, almost every kid in America grows up having to have that game tying or game winning hit in the World Series. How big was your backyard? Was it a whiffle ball or tennis ball? And how many times did you imagine it?

DAVID FREESE: Yeah, you imagine in that scenario, and I'll be honest with you, I was running around the bases, and Edmonds popped into my head, that moment, because I remember when he did that in Game 6

LANCE BERKMAN: So do I (laughter).

DAVID FREESE: But seriously, growing up or whatever, and you see stuff like that happen, those become memories. I've said it time and time again as far as being a part of this comeback, but it wouldn't be as sweet if this group of guys weren't with me. This is cool to have this group doing this kind of stuff.

Q. David, can you describe the double in the ninth, the pitch you got, the sequence, what you remember about it, and then also the home run, too?

DAVID FREESE: Yeah, against Feliz, I went up to the dish saying what a great way to have my first career AB, off Feliz, and I just told myself stay short. He started me off with some off speed, so I was like, now what's coming? I just said, heater, that's the way I hit. I just looked for something out over and swung through a heater and then kind of got the same pitch and didn't miss that one.

And then the home run, just worked the count, and I was worried about getting on base, leading off an inning, taking a walk, breaking a bat, single, whatever, and full count came, and I knew he had a good change up. So I kind of had that in the back of my head. But sitting here, he threw a change up, he shook to the change up, and I got the head out.

Q. Did you see the ball drop?

DAVID FREESE: Yeah, I saw the usher trying to keep everybody off the grass, but that obviously didn't work.

Q. Can you just talk about what you were thinking when you were walking towards the batter's box heading into your ninth inning at bat. And does coming through in that spot give you even more confidence heading into your extra inning at bat?

DAVID FREESE: Yeah, when you haven't seen a guy ever, you've really got to go back to the basics and just try and hit. It's all about seeing the baseball, give you the best opportunity to hit. I just worked and tried to wait for something out over, and I got something, battled with two strikes and got something to hit.

And then the home run just tried to do the same thing, just tried to get on base.

Q. It seems like when you guys come into these playoffs and stuff you've always said all along, you play like you don't have anything to lose, you play pretty loose. Does that change going into a Game 7? Are you loose now? Is there a momentum? What's the feeling going in now to a Game 7?

LANCE BERKMAN: Well, for me, and really coming into this game, these big games, loose is not the right word. You know, and I'm not I don't like to try to over spiritualize stuff, but I'm a Christian, and I don't pray for hits and stuff like that, but I definitely prayed today and will again tomorrow just for a calmness and an ability to compete because I think that's all you can ask for.

The tendency in these big situations and these big games, your emotions get going, you try to do too much. If you're a .300 hitter all you can reasonably expect to do in big situations is hit .300. I mean, you can't be better than you are. I think that's how I view these games. I mean, I'm definitely not loose. I don't think this is fun. I mean, it's obviously fun when you win, but going into the game it's not fun. It's not fun to go up there with a season on the line.

But you know, I think the experience is incredible. But loose is not how I would describe myself.

Q. How do you keep your emotions in check in those two at bats in the ninth and the 11th?

DAVID FREESE: It's all about knowing that this is the same game as when you're six years old. It's just elevated on a stage, and everyone is watching. But you've just got to keep reminding yourself, it really is the same game and you have a job to do and you try and execute. Sometimes you don't and sometimes you do.

Q. David, two quick things: Do you have the ball in the ninth? Did you think Cruz had a play on it? What was your reaction as you saw it taking off the bat? And do you have any perspective on the fact that your at bats are going to be basically replayed forever?

DAVID FREESE: First question, you know, I thought I got a good piece of it. I saw Cruz break back, and then about rounding first base I thought he was going to catch it.

LANCE BERKMAN: Playing anywhere else that game is over with right there. That's a home run for sure in Texas but in 99 percent of the ballparks in the league, that's the walk off. He just went and did it here.

DAVID FREESE: Yeah, it was just I hit it pretty good. It was a tough play, and fortunately it fell. It's just great to be a part of this, as far as the second question. You know, if it's going to be replayed over and over again, I don't know, but it's really cool to be a part of this and to force a Game 7.

Q. (No microphone).

LANCE BERKMAN: Well, he's been doing it -- the left handed starter has pitched and he bats Matt fourth, if he's a right handed hitter then I bat fourth. So I think it was luck of the draw. I don't think there was anything more to it. Since Matt hurt his hand and he missed some time there leading into the playoffs and he missed some time in the first round of the playoffs, I think Tony did that because his timing has been a little off, and so he kind of mixes it up.

And tomorrow if Matt plays, he'll probably be hitting fourth because they're going to start that lefty. I don't think that there's much to that. But I mean, I guess it's good that I didn't hurt my finger before that last at bat.

Q. David, you rehearsed this moment as a kid, your mom, your family shared the story. Now that it's become a reality, how does it compare to the dream?

DAVID FREESE: We've got one more game. I remember in the Division Series after the Oswalt game, people were talking about memories and replaying this over and over again, and I said, "I don't dream about doing this, winning the DS. I want to win the World Series." I hope we're the ones smiling 24 hours from now.

LANCE BERKMAN: By the way, when you're a little kid and you're out there, you don't have a bunch of reporters and fans that are ready to call you a choking dog if you don't come through. (Laughter) So when you're a kid, you don't realize what a big moment that is. I'm just going to caution all little kids out there, be careful what you wish for. (Laughter).