Allen Craig talks about game changing single as Jason Motte talks about the bullpen’s role
The St. Louis Cardinals are close to a repeat of a World Series victory in 2006 and they kicked of their Game 1 in the 2011 World Series with a 3 – 2 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, October 19, at the Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The club, under
the management of Tony La Russa, did a splendid job with Chris Carpenter marshalling the mound. As the teams were locked on 2 – 2, Allen Craig, pinch hitter, provided the game wining single as the bullpen held on tight to the lead.
Craig managed to loft the ball to the right in the sixth to get David Freese home for the 3 – 2 victory. However the most important thing to note on that play was the Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz was very close to catching that ball. And to top it off,
Craig was facing Alexi Ogando, who is on fire for the Rangers in the playoffs this year.
"He came right at me with fastballs and I missed the first two," Craig said. "That last one, I was trying to get the barrel on it and make the defence make a play, and fortunately I kept it fair. Cruz made a great attempt on that, it was a great play all-around."
Nevertheless, the Rangers lost the game, thanks to a Craig single and that is what the headlines will read for a long time. One other important figure to take notice of in the game was Jason Motte. The regular reliever has done well in settling in on his
lockdown role for the Cardinals. He pitched the ninth inning, allowing no hit. In eight overall games in the postseason, he has gone on to pitch nine innings, conceding just one hit.
"We go out there and our job is to not let them score," Motte said. "Our job is to get people out and not let them score. ... Hopefully we can do it for three more."
If the Cardinals keep the pressure up on the Rangers for the next three games, they might as well be the World Series Champions.
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