Texas Triumph Preview

TEXAS TRIUMPH Te x as R an g ers: 2011 Wo r ld S eri e s C ham pio n s

Presented by The Dallas Morning News

96 | World Series – Game

World Series Texas Rangers vs. St. Louis Cardinals

opposite: As the fireworks went off, fans in the outfield at Rangers Ballpark celebrated Michael Young’s home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning of World Series Game 3. It was Young’s first home run of the World Series and second of the postseason. Brad Loper

World Series | 97

Ogando can’t extinguish the fire this time OCTOBER 20, 2011, BY EDDIE SEFKO

S

T. LOUIS — On a cold, dreary night, the Rangers sent their hottest pitcher out to save them.

Alexi Ogando didn’t do anything different from what he had done in becoming the Rangers’ most dominant pitcher of the postseason before Wednesday. This time, he didn’t get the job done.

A pitch that was right where Ogando wanted it and a Nelson Cruz cleat that got hung up in the dirt doomed the Rangers in Game 1 of the World Series.

Ogando, the starter-turned-reliever, came into the game with two outs in the sixth inning and a runner on third base. It was the kind of situation in which Ogando has been golden during the postseason.

This time, Allen Craig hit a slicing, looping liner to right field. It was nearly an out. But Cruz tried to make a sliding catch, and his foot got caught in the wet dirt.

The ball hit just a few feet in fair territory, and David Freese trotted home with what proved to be the gamewinning run in a 3-2 St. Louis victory.

One play can change a game. The Rangers have to hope it

right: Rangers reliever Alexi Ogando (left) and Mike Napoli talked in the dugout after Ogando gave up the go-ahead run in the sixth inning during Game 1 of the World Series in St. Louis. LOUIS DeLUCA opposite left: Rangers manager Ron Washington greeted Cardinals manager Tony La Russa during the introduction of the lineups before the start of Game 1. Vernon Bryant opposite top right: The St. Louis grounds crew pulled the tarp off the field before the start of Game 1. Despite threatening weather, there were no delays. The temperature at game time was a chilly 49 degrees. Vernon Bryant opposite bottom right: Cardinals starting pitcher Chris Carpenter dived for first base ahead of Ian Kinsler for the first out of Game. 1. Kinsler hit a grounder to first baseman Albert Pujols, who made a low throw to Carpenter covering the base. Michael Ainsworth 98 | World Series – Game 1

World Series – Game 1 | 99

didn’t change a series.

“That’s what we were trying,” Ogando said. “We were watching his [Craig’s] at-bat, and he was late on the pitches outside. So we tried to keep them in the same area.

“I thought he was not going to be able to hit that pitch. I was OK with the location.”

Ogando had thrown 71⁄3 innings in the AL Championship Series and allowed only one run. The Rangers won all four games in which he appeared. He’d been a beast with runners in scoring position.

Cruz said he thought he had a bead on the ball hit by Craig.

“It was really close,” Cruz said. “When I made a slide, my foot got stuck in the dirt. The ball was tailing. I took my shot and tried. Unfortunately, I couldn’t catch it.”

Manager Ron Washington said he never wavered about having Ogando in at that point of the game.

“He was my best pitcher there in that situation,” Washington said. “They had an opportunity to push a run across, and their pinch hitters did it.”

The Rangers didn’t do so in the same situation. In the seventh inning, Craig Gentry and Esteban German both struck out with the tying run at second base.

Despite the loss, the Rangers came away from the opener with a much brighter outlook than they had last year, when they gave up 11 runs in Game 1 of the Series against San Francisco.

They never recovered from that setback.

But they were infinitely defiant after Wednesday’s game.

“This was a good game,” Cruz said. “It could have gone either way. We’re confident. We cannot feel bad. Definitely, there is no doubt we’ll bounce back.” 

above: Mike Napoli hit a two-run home run off of Chris Carpenter in the fifth inning to tie the score in Game 1 of the World Series. It was Napoli’s second home run of the postseason.

Michael Ainsworth right: Shortstop Elvis Andrus (right) gave starter C.J. Wilson a little pep talk after Wilson gave up a two-run single to Lance Berkman in the fourth inning of Game 1. Michael Ainsworth far right: Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz tried to make a sliding catch on a ball hit by pinch hitter Allen Craig in the sixth inning. Cruz was unable to make the catch, and David Freese scored the deciding run from third base. Vernon Bryant 100 | World Series – Game 1

above: Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina tagged out Esteban German after German struck out to end the seventh inning. Molina dropped the ball after German went down swinging while pinch hitting for Alexi Ogando with two runners on base. Michael Ainsworth below: A Cardinals fan displayed a ‘squirrely’ sign during Game 1.

The Cardinals took up the rodent as an unofficial mascot after squirrels had twice run onto the Busch Stadium field during the National League Division Series. LOUIS DeLUCA

World Series – Game | 101

Despite injury, Hamilton’s gritty at-bat changes game OCTOBER 21, 2011, BY EVAN GRANT

S

T. LOUIS — Behold the power of Josh Hamilton: Even hurt, he has the ability make the great Tony La Russa look foolish.

A few hours after Hamilton answered far more questions about his groin than any man should ever endure, his looming presence pushed La Russa to take out his closer while leading in the ninth. The result: back-to-back sacrifice flies by Hamilton and Michael Young, a 2-1 Rangers win and a World Series that is tied at one game apiece as it heads to Texas.

The question of the day Thursday was whether Hamilton was fit to play. He has a sore groin that, if not getting worse, isn’t getting better. Before the game, he acknowledged that if it were the regular season, he’d “probably be on the disabled list.” He talked about tweaking his swing to remove the lower half of his body from the process to lessen the pain. After the game, when asked if he’s received any kind of injection for the pain, he said he was “pleading the Fifth.”

None of that swayed manager Ron Washington into making a move.

“I know my player,” Washington said. “The nine guys that I put out there on the field tonight, those are the nine guys that got me here, and we’re going to go with them through good times and bad. … Josh can play, and he will play. Without a doubt, he changes things.”

The Rangers got back-to-back base hits off closer Jason Motte, sandwiched around Ian Kinsler’s steal of second, to start the ninth. Kinsler, however, was held at third on Elvis Andrus’ single.

“The middle of the order was coming up,” said third base coach Dave Anderson. “You know those guys are going to come through, but you’ve got to give them a chance. We were talking about finding a way to put the ball in play. I knew we could do that.”

With runners on second and third, La Russa opted to bring in 41-year-old Arthur Rhodes, who got a fly out from Hamilton in Game 1. It removed the harder-throwing Motte from the equation and meant

102 | World Series – Game 2

that, whatever happened with Hamilton, La Russa was going to have to make another move to a right-hander to face Michael Young.

As he promised before the game, Hamilton did what the situation asked of him. He drove the first pitch he saw from Rhodes to medium-depth right field. Kinsler trotted home with the tying run, and Andrus took third. Then La Russa had to go and get the lefty and put in right-hander Lance Lynn to face Young. Young did just what Hamilton did — lifted a fly ball to the outfield to get the winning run home.

Only in retrospect did the bypassed option become evident: La Russa could have walked Hamilton, left Motte in the game and had Young at the plate with the double play and forces at any base in order.

The inning and Hamilton’s plate appearance seemed

to only underscore the Rangers’ decision to keep Hamilton in the lineup and in the third spot.

“I haven’t been able to create the kind of torque I’d like to,” said Hamilton, who is 0-for-7 in the World Series. “I’m doing what I need to do. If that’s move a runner up or hit a double, that’s what I will do. There have been some pitches to drive that I’ve ended up popping up because I can’t create that torque. I don’t feel any pressure to hit homers. Our lineup is so deep.

I’ll do what the game asks of me and save my bullets for a play in the field or one at-bat.” 

above: Rangers starter Colby Lewis held the Cardinals scoreless for six innings. Alexi Ogando replaced Lewis with two outs in the seventh and gave up a single to Allen Craig that drove in the Cardinals’ only run of the game. LOUIS DeLUCA Right: In a series of three photos from the fifth inning, Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus flipped the ball with his glove after making a diving stop. As Jaime Garcia began his slide, second baseman Ian Kinsler caught the ball on the run. Kinsler stepped on the bag ahead of Garcia for the force-out, squelching the Cardinals’ scoring threat with the third out of the inning. Michael Ainsworth opposite: Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton shattered his bat on a pitch by the Cardinals’ Jaime Garcia in the first inning. Hamilton grounded out to third baseman David Freese. Hamilton was 0-for-3, but he had an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning.

LOUIS DeLUCA

World Series – Game | 103

above: Nelson Cruz’s bat sailed over the heads of photographers in the fifth inning of Game 2. Cruz, the Rangers right fielder who was 0-for-3 in the game, struck out in the at-bat. Vernon Bryant right: The Cardinals’ Albert Pujols reacted after right fielder Nelson Cruz caught Pujols’ fly ball near the wall in the eighth inning. Pujols was 0-for-4 in the 2-1 loss to the Rangers in Game 2, making him hitless in the first two games of the World Series. Vernon Bryant far right: Ian Kinsler stole second base, barely getting to the bag ahead of catcher Yadier Molina’s throw to shortstop Rafael Furcal in the ninth inning of Game 2. Kinsler went to third on Elvis Andrus’ single and scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Josh Hamilton. Vernon Bryant

104 | World Series – Game 2

World Series – Game 2 | 105

above: Adrian Beltre congratulated Josh Hamilton after Hamilton’s sacrifice fly drove in Ian Kinsler with the tying run in the ninth inning.

Michael Ainsworth right: St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa (left) took relief pitcher Jason Motte out of the game in the ninth inning after he gave up singles to Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus to start the inning. Motte took the loss in Game 2 as both runners eventually scored. Vernon Bryant

106 | World Series – Game 2

above: Michael Young’s sacrifice fly to center drove in Elvis Andrus with the winning run in the ninth inning of Game 2. Vernon Bryant left: Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus walked through a sea of high fives in the dugout after he scored the go-ahead run in the ninth inning in Texas’ 2-1 victory in Game 2. LOUIS DeLUCA

World Series – Game 2 | 107

Pujols’ performance is one for the ages OCTOBER 23, 2011, BY GERRY FRALEY

A

RLINGTON — Two games late, St. Louis heavyweight Albert Pujols burst onto the World Series scene Saturday night.

Pujols put together one of the best offensive games in Series history, pushing the Cardinals to a 16-7 win in Game 3 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Pujols homered in each of his last three at-bats, joining iconic sluggers Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson as the only players to accomplish the feat. Pujols also tied Series marks with five hits, matching Hall of Famer Paul Molitor, and six RBIs and established a record with 14 total bases.

“I’m going to tell my kids and grandkids one day that I witnessed that in person,” said Cardinals reliever Lance Lynn, who went 21⁄3 innings for the win.

This performance will register for the short and long term with the Rangers.

For the short term, it increases the willingness of Rangers manager Ron Washington to pitch around Pujols as often as possible. The Rangers paid for the mistake of pitching to Pujols.

“When the opportunity presents itself to put him on the bag, I’m not going to let him swing the bat,” Washington said.

For the long term, the Rangers will surely remember this performance when Pujols enters the free-agent market after the Series.

The Cardinals, the only club Pujols has known in an 11-year career, are likely to keep him, but they are not as well-heeled as the Rangers. For a club that has been unsettled at first base all season, it makes sense to at

right: The Cardinals’ Albert Pujols connected for a three-run home run — his first of three in Game 3 — off Rangers reliever Alexi Ogando in the sixth inning.

Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson are the only other players to hit three home runs in a World Series game.

Vernon Bryant 108 | World Series – Game 3

least gauge his interest in switching clubs.

This was Pujols’ response to a bad showing in Thursday’s Game 2 loss.

The World Series has not been kind to Pujols. He hit only .200 in 2006, when the Cardinals defeated Detroit in five games. He went hitless in his first six at-bats against the Rangers.

Pujols also had a fielding error that played a significant role in the Rangers’ ninth-inning comeback in Game 2. Coming over from first base, he bobbled the ball when trying to cut off a throw from center fielder Jon Jay. That became a vital play in the Rangers’ comeback victory.

Pujols’ failure to appear in the clubhouse to explain his misplay, leaving the duty to much younger and less prominent players, triggered a firestorm. Pujols said he considered the criticism of him unfair.

If Pujols was bothered by the slow start and being raked over the coals, it never showed.

He opened the fourth and fifth with line-drive singles. The Cardinals scored a total of seven runs in the innings.

In Pujols’ last three at-bats, the Rangers inexplicably went after Pujols with fastballs.

In the sixth, suddenly fading right-hander Alexi Ogando challenged Pujols with a 96 mph fastball.

Pujols hit it 423 feet, off the facing of the left field club level, for a three-run homer.

“It’s pretty special to be in the same category as Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson,” Pujols said. “To do it on this stage is amazing.”

Pujols said he would enjoy the moment but forget about it before Sunday night’s game. The Rangers will remember it for a long time. 

above: Rangers relief pitcher Mike Gonzalez hung his head as Albert Pujols rounded the bases following a home run — his second of three — in the seventh inning of Game 3.

Michael Ainsworth

World Series – Game 3 | 109

above: The Cardinals’ Lance Berkman scored on a throwing error by first baseman Mike Napoli (left) in the fourth inning. Napoli was trying to get a force-out after fielding a ground ball with the bases loaded. The wild throw eluded catcher Yorvit Torrealba and went to the backstop.

David Freese also scored on the play. Vernon Bryant right: Rangers first baseman Mike Napoli pleaded to umpire Ron Kulpa that he had tagged the Cardinals’ Matt Holliday on the helmet in the fourth inning of Game 3. Holliday was called safe. Kulpa said after seeing a replay that his call was incorrect. That was of little solace to the Rangers as the Cardinals scored four runs in the inning to take a 5-0 lead. Vernon Bryant below: Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols greeted the Rangers’ Josh Hamilton after Hamilton singled in the fifth inning of Game 3.

Hamilton had earlier grounded out to Pujols and lined out to Pujols.

LOUIS DeLUCA

110 | World Series – Game 3

above: Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina tagged Mike Napoli for the final out of the fourth inning as Napoli tried to score on a fly ball to left fielder Matt Holliday in Game 3. The Rangers scored three runs in the inning to cut the St. Louis lead to 5-3. Michael Ainsworth top right: Rangers third base coach Dave Anderson put up the stop sign for Josh Hamilton as Hamilton rounded third base in the fifth inning of Game 3. Hamilton advanced to third on a double by Michael Young that drove in Elvis Andrus. Hamilton scored on Adrian Beltre’s single as the Rangers scored three runs in the inning and pared the Cardinals’ lead to 8-6. Tom Fox bottom right: Rangers president Nolan Ryan looked on as the team trailed the Cardinals in the eighth inning of Game 3 of the World Series. Tom Fox World Series – Game 3 | 111

Lefty is right on Holland handcuffs Cardinals on two hits; Napoli provides offense in 4-0 victory OCTOBER 24, 2011, BY BRAD TOWNSEND

A

RLINGTON — Young left-hander Derek Holland had the game of his life Sunday night, pitching the Texas Rangers to a 4-0 victory over St. Louis, tying the World Series at 2-2.

Holland, who turned 25 two weeks ago, pitched brilliantly in holding the Cardinals to two hits in 81⁄3 innings as the Rangers, before a sellout crowd of 51,539, rebounded impressively from their ghastly 16-7 loss in Game 3.

Holland struck out seven Cardinals and walked only two in raising his 2011 postseason record to 3-0. And to think, in two relief appearances in last year’s World Series, Holland threw 13 pitches, only one of which was a strike.

Holland clearly wanted to pitch a complete game, which would have made him the first American Leaguer to do so in a World Series since Minnesota’s Jack Morris in 1991. But after Holland walked Rafael Furcal with one out in the ninth, manager Ron Washington called for Neftali Feliz to close the game.

Holland pleaded his case with Washington, then exited the mound to a standing ovation from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington’s largest crowd of the season and seventh-largest ever.

“I was begging to stay in there,” Holland said with a smile.

The Rangers showed no hangover from the Game 3 blowout. Josh Hamilton staked Holland an early lead by hitting a first-inning RBI double. Catcher Mike Napoli broke open the game with a three-run homer in the sixth.

opposite: Rangers left-hander Derek Holland held the Cardinals to two hits before leaving with one out in the ninth inning of Game 4. Holland struck out seven and walked two while earning his second victory of the playoffs. Michael Ainsworth 112 | World Series – Game 4

It’s no surprise that the Rangers bounced back, considering they now have played 44 games without losing two straight, dating to late August.

“Last night, we got beat,” Washington said. “We got hit a few times. We might have gotten knocked down, but we didn’t get knocked out, and that’s the way we look at it.”

The Rangers only aspire to win the first World Series title in franchise history. But Sunday represented a step forward for the franchise from last year’s World Series, when Texas won just once in five games against the San Francisco Giants.

For local sports fans who believe in karma, the RangersCardinals series has followed the same pattern as June’s Mavericks-Heat NBA Finals.

Like the Mavericks, the Rangers briefly stole home-field advantage with a comeback victory in Game 2, lost Game 3 at home, then rebounded with a Game 4 victory.

Of course, the Mavericks broke open their series and won the title by winning Game 5 at home and Game 6 in Miami.

For the Rangers to follow suit, the next step is to win Monday night’s pivotal Game 5 at home, with staff aces C.J. Wilson of Texas and Chris Carpenter of St. Louis facing off.

When those

pitchers were matched in Game 1 of this World Series, Carpenter’s Cardinals won, 3-2.

Game 5 will be the Rangers’ 89th and final home appearance of the 2011 season. It also might be Wilson’s last game in a Texas uniform. He is eligible to become a free agent at season’s end. He’s been a Ranger since the franchise drafted him in 2001.

“I haven’t thought about that at all,” Wilson said.

“I’m just thinking about the team and where we’re at and being in the World Series. Obviously, there’s no extra series after this. There’s no galaxy series or universe series or whatever.” 

World Series – Game | 113