Freese Frames From Game 6: Highlights of a World Series Classic
Freese Frames From Game 6: Highlights of a World Series Classic
On Oct. 27, 2011, the Texas Rangers were trying to close out their first world championship in a 51-year team history. They led the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 in the series, with Colby Lewis on the mound against Jaime Garcia.
In the ninth inning, they led 7-5 and were one strike away. In the 10th inning, they entered it leading 9-7 and again were one strike away. And the Cardinals finished off the comeback, winning 10-9 on a walk-off home run by David Freese.
A look at highlights and photos from one of the classic games in baseball history.
An ugly start
It was not a classic game at the start. The game was 2-2 after two innings as the Rangers scored single runs in the first and second, and Lance Berkman hit a two-run homer in the first.
The teams made five errors in the fourth through sixth innings. Two of the Cardinals' runs were unearned.
Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia was out after three innings.
Napoli gives Rangers the lead
Texas took a 3-2 lead in the fourth on a single by Mike Napoli. It was his ninth RBI of the series. He then injured his ankle sliding into second base, but stayed in the game.
Back-to-back homers
The Cardinals scored one in the fifth, and the Rangers one more in the top of the sixth to retake the lead, and then the Cardinals tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth. After knocking out starter Colby Lewis, Rangers reliever Alexi Ogando walked Yadier Molina with the bases loaded.
The Rangers answered yet again in the top of the seventh, hitting back-to-back homers. Against Lance Lynn, Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz hit back-to-back home runs, and Ian Kinsler had an RBI single as Texas took a 7-4 lead.
Cardinals' rally begins
Allen Craig, in for an injured Matt Holliday, hit a home run in the bottom of the eighth to cut the lead to 7-5, which is how the game stood entering the bottom of the ninth inning.
Ryan Theriot struck out swinging against Rangers closer Neftali Feliz. But three-time MVP Albert Pujols started the rally on the double to left center.
Lance Berkman walked, and Allen Craig struck out. First and second, two outs.
One Strike Away, Part 1
Neftali Feliz got two strikes on David Freese. On a 1-2 pitch, Freese lined a ball to deep right that just eluded right fielder Nelson Cruz. Running on contact, Albert Pujols scored from second and Lance Berkman scored from first as Freese slid in with a triple. The game entered extra innings tied at 9-9 after Yadier Molina flew out to Cruz in right.
Josh Hamilton delivers
Texas went from agony to ecstasy quickly. Facing Cardinals closer Jason Motte, the Rangers' Elvis Andrus singled with one out and Josh Hamilton hit a home run - his first of the postseason - to right-center, giving the Rangers a 9-7 lead.
With the Cardinals' bottom of the order up - and manager Tony La Russa out of pinch hitters - lefty Darren Oliver was summoned from the Rangers bullpen. Daniel Descalso and Jon Jay, who both started the game on the bench, singled to put runners on first and second. Pitcher Kyle Lohse was called in to pinch hit, and hit a sacrifice bunt to move them to second and third.
Scott Feldman was called in to relieve, and Ryan Theriot grounded out to shortstop, scoring Descalso.
Albert Pujols was then intentionally walked with two outs, bringing up Lance Berkman.
On a 2-2 pitch from Feldman, Berkman hit a blooper to right center, scoring Jay and tying the game 9-9.
"I actually felt pretty good about it because I figured I was in a no-lose situation," Berkman said after the game.
Feldman retired Allen Craig on a groundout to end the inning.
Jake Westbrook relieved for the Cardinals, and the Rangers were scoreless in the top of the 11th.
Mark Lowe came for the Rangers - their eighth pitcher of the night - and he threw three balls to leadoff hitter David Freese. A called strike and a foul ball made it a full count. Freese then belted a changeup more than 400 feet over the wall in center field, ending the game on a walk-off home run. It was the 15th walk-off homer in World Series history, and the first since 2005.
The Cardinals scored seven runs after the eighth inning.
"You had to be here to believe it," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.
It sent the World Series to Game 7 for the first time since 2002.
On Oct. 27, 2011, the Texas Rangers were trying to close out their first world championship in a 51-year team history. They led the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 in the series, with Colby Lewis on the mound against Jaime Garcia.
In the ninth inning, they led 7-5 and were one strike away. In the 10th inning, they entered it leading 9-7 and again were one strike away. And the Cardinals finished off the comeback, winning 10-9 on a walk-off home run by David Freese.
A look at highlights and photos from one of the classic games in baseball history.
An ugly start
It was not a classic game at the start. The game was 2-2 after two innings as the Rangers scored single runs in the first and second, and Lance Berkman hit a two-run homer in the first.
The teams made five errors in the fourth through sixth innings. Two of the Cardinals' runs were unearned.
Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia was out after three innings.
Napoli gives Rangers the lead
Texas took a 3-2 lead in the fourth on a single by Mike Napoli. It was his ninth RBI of the series. He then injured his ankle sliding into second base, but stayed in the game.
Back-to-back homers
The Cardinals scored one in the fifth, and the Rangers one more in the top of the sixth to retake the lead, and then the Cardinals tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth. After knocking out starter Colby Lewis, Rangers reliever Alexi Ogando walked Yadier Molina with the bases loaded.
The Rangers answered yet again in the top of the seventh, hitting back-to-back homers. Against Lance Lynn, Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz hit back-to-back home runs, and Ian Kinsler had an RBI single as Texas took a 7-4 lead.
Cardinals' rally begins
Allen Craig, in for an injured Matt Holliday, hit a home run in the bottom of the eighth to cut the lead to 7-5, which is how the game stood entering the bottom of the ninth inning.
Ryan Theriot struck out swinging against Rangers closer Neftali Feliz. But three-time MVP Albert Pujols started the rally on the double to left center.
Lance Berkman walked, and Allen Craig struck out. First and second, two outs.
One Strike Away, Part 1
Neftali Feliz got two strikes on David Freese. On a 1-2 pitch, Freese lined a ball to deep right that just eluded right fielder Nelson Cruz. Running on contact, Albert Pujols scored from second and Lance Berkman scored from first as Freese slid in with a triple. The game entered extra innings tied at 9-9 after Yadier Molina flew out to Cruz in right.
Josh Hamilton delivers
Texas went from agony to ecstasy quickly. Facing Cardinals closer Jason Motte, the Rangers' Elvis Andrus singled with one out and Josh Hamilton hit a home run - his first of the postseason - to right-center, giving the Rangers a 9-7 lead.
With the Cardinals' bottom of the order up - and manager Tony La Russa out of pinch hitters - lefty Darren Oliver was summoned from the Rangers bullpen. Daniel Descalso and Jon Jay, who both started the game on the bench, singled to put runners on first and second. Pitcher Kyle Lohse was called in to pinch hit, and hit a sacrifice bunt to move them to second and third.
Scott Feldman was called in to relieve, and Ryan Theriot grounded out to shortstop, scoring Descalso.
Albert Pujols was then intentionally walked with two outs, bringing up Lance Berkman.
On a 2-2 pitch from Feldman, Berkman hit a blooper to right center, scoring Jay and tying the game 9-9.
"I actually felt pretty good about it because I figured I was in a no-lose situation," Berkman said after the game.
Feldman retired Allen Craig on a groundout to end the inning.
Jake Westbrook relieved for the Cardinals, and the Rangers were scoreless in the top of the 11th.
Mark Lowe came for the Rangers - their eighth pitcher of the night - and he threw three balls to leadoff hitter David Freese. A called strike and a foul ball made it a full count. Freese then belted a changeup more than 400 feet over the wall in center field, ending the game on a walk-off home run. It was the 15th walk-off homer in World Series history, and the first since 2005.
The Cardinals scored seven runs after the eighth inning.
"You had to be here to believe it," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.
It sent the World Series to Game 7 for the first time since 2002.
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