Fall Classic Game 1: Unlikely Hero Steps Up for St. Louis, Bullpen Shines Again in Game 1 Victory

Allen Craig wasn't thinking about what could be if he made a clutch hit.

His eyes were locked in on the pitcher, ready to make something happen. And when Nelson Cruz's glove failed to come up with the ball, he did.

Craig's slicing liner proved to be the difference in the Cardinals Game 1 win over the Rangers, where many players shined. Now, St. Louis has the momentum, and the edge.

Marc Rzepczynski got two key strikeouts, Jason Motte got the save, Arthur Rhodes got a key out in his first World Series appearance, and Chris Carpenter got the win, giving up just two runs in six innings.

On the batting side, David Freese got the go-ahead run, Lance Berkman hit a two-run single, and Matt Holliday and Albert Pujols had a run.

With St. Louis on the board first, they now are three wins from capturing the World Series title they have craved so much since that magical '06 journey.

Neutralizing some of Texas' stars was the key in this one. Ian Kinsler did nothing, except get an infield hit and get caught stealing. Elvis Andrus, Michael Young, and Josh Hamilton were all no-shows.

Chris Carpenter did a great job with that, but he made one mistake. With Adrian Beltre on first, he missed his location and gave up a high fastball to Mike Napoli.

That evened up the Fall Classic's first game and sent this one into dramatic fashion. However, Allen Craig didn't want to go to extra innings.

The bullpen was pitching for short periods of time, and it took five pitchers to get the final nine outs. The Cardinals weren't equipped to handle extra innings.

So, with David Freese on third (double, wild pitch) and Nick Punto on first (walk), Craig hit a low fastball into right field, slicing towards the foul pole...

Cruz raced over and slid out, but the glove trapped the ball, and the ball fell onto the Busch Stadium grass, displaying to everyone that the Redbirds had their first lead of the game.

So while the Rally Squirrel helped the Cardinals climb back from tough deficits against quality teams, it looks like the Squirrel can take a break.

St. Louis has the lead. And by the way they played last night, it doesn't look likely that they'll relinquish it.

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