Perhaps the Greatest World Series Game Ever (that didn't end with Joe Carter jumping up and down).

by Tom Dakers on Oct 28, 2011 1:47 AM EDT in Fun

ST LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 27: The St. Louis Cardinals bench rip the jersey shirt off of David Freese #23 after hitting a walk off solo home run in the 11th inning to win Game Six of the MLB World Series against the Texas Rangers at Busch Stadium on October 27, 2011 in St Louis, Missouri. The Cardinals won 10-9. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

That it was nothing short of amazing. The Cardinals were down to their last strike 2 times and still won the game.

Let me say that I'm not a big fan of the 'no doubles' defense. But when you are up by a run and there are runners on first and second, that is a lousy time to use it. I want my manager playing to win, not playing not to lose. If the batter gets to 2 strikes, that is an even worse time to use it. At 2 strikes the batter is just trying to make contact, if your outfielders at playing way back, there is a ton of extra space for the ball to fall and when it does, you aren't going to throw a runner out at the plate.

The Rangers were up by 3 after 7 innings and it should have been over. Then the Rangers were up by 2 going into the bottom of the 9th, and had 2 outs, with 2 strikes on David Freese and Freese hits one over a gimpy Nelson Cruz in RF. The no doubles defense failed to stop the double.

All seemed to good, again, for the Rangers when Josh Hamilton hit his first homer of the series to give them a 2 run lead in the top of the 10th. But in the bottom of the inning Daniel Descalso and Jon Jay started things off with singles. Then Kyle Lohse pinch bunted, since the Cards were out of batters on the bench. He popped the ball up but it went over the head of Adrian Beltre charging the plate. Elvis Andrus made a nice play to get the out at first. Ryan Theriot ground out to Beltre to score a run and Albert Pujols was intentionally walked. Lance Berkman went to a 2-2 count before dropping a single in front of the 'no doubles' defense scoring the runner from second. Allen Craig ground out to end the inning.

In the top of the 11th, Mike Napoli singled but the Rangers couldn't score him. What the Rangers did do was pinch hit Esteban German for pitcher Scott Feldman with 2 outs. German ground out and the Rangers were down to using Mark Lowe in the bottom of the inning. Lowe got to a full count against David Freese, leading off the inning, before giving up the walk off homer.

Rangers of the Day: Hamilton (.539 WPA), Napoli (.193, 2 for 3, 3 walks and a rolled ankle, I wonder if he'll play tomorrow), Derek Hollan (.122), Michael Young (.114) and Ian Kinsler (.102).

Suckage Rangers: Neftali Feliz (-.414, for the first Ranger blown save of the night), Lowe (-.368, for the loss), Colby Lewis (-.245), Feldman (-.220, for the second Ranger blown save) and Darren Oliver (-.195).

Cardinals of the Day: Freese (.953!!), Berkman (.817!), Jake Westbrook (.132) and Descalso (.129)/

Suckage Cardinals: Jason Motte (-.399, giving up Hamilton's homer), Lance Lynn (-.257, for answering the phone), Rafael Furcal (-.248, 0 for 5), Ryan Theriot (-.202, 0 for 3), Fernando Salas (-.176) and Craig (-.178).

There was also some dreadful defense. For the Cards :Matt Holliday dropped a fly, hoping that Furcal was going to catch. Salas threw the ball into CF trying to get an out at second on a bunt. Freese dropped a popup. On the Texas side, Young made 2 errors at first base.

Game 7 tomorrow. If it is half as good as tonight's game I'll be very very sad that I have to miss it.

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That was THE most entertaining World Series games I've ever seen, despite it starting off real ugly for both teams.

Some records to talk about:

There has been 17 extra inning homers in World Series history. This was the first World Series game with more than one extra inning homer. This game had more extra inning homers than World Series games in the 1910s (1), 20s (0), 30s (1), 60s (1), 70s (1), 80s (1), and had the same number as the 90s (2).

Josh Hamilton joins Dave Henderson (BOS), who hit his in game 6 of the 1986 World Series (the “Buckner game”), as only players to hit an extra-inning homer in the World Series who had to watch their team lose the ballgame.

David Freese’s +0.953 WPA is the highest among all batters in World Series history. Kirk Gibson’s pinch-hit homer got him +0.870 WPA, but he accumulated all of that in one at bat. Lance Berkman finished the game with a +0.817 WPA and is now 6th all-time among batters. Freese’s WPA value also puts him second overall all time, just behind Babe Ruth, who threw a 14-inning complete game in game 2 of the 1916 World Series.

In this game, Texas used 20 players, and St. Louis used 22. 42 is one short of most players in a WS game (the White Sox and the Astros used 43 together in game 3 if the 2005 World Series). The 22 Cardinals in the game is also the second most in World Series history. The record is held by the Minnesota Twins, who used 23 players in game 3 of the 1991 World Series. I’m sure TLR was aware of this record when he inserted Edwin Jackson then immediately pinch hit for him with Kyle Lohse.

Follow me @BBBMinorLeaguer

by Minor Leaguer on Oct 28, 2011 2:08 AM EDT reply actions

Oh and

Thank you, Fangraphs.

Follow me @BBBMinorLeaguer

by Minor Leaguer on Oct 28, 2011 2:12 AM EDT up reply actions

For the errors

there was also Matt Holliday getting thrown out at third with the bases loaded and one out.

I like how the highlights on Sportsnet take about 5 minutes.

by JaysSaskatchewan on Oct 28, 2011 2:37 AM EDT reply actions

The second-best game I've ever watched.

Kirk Gibson’s heroics take no. 1 – I was 8, and don’t remember anything else in that game, but it was amazing.

by gabrielsyme on Oct 28, 2011 4:45 AM EDT reply actions

I’ll take last night’s game because it was a collection of memorable moments and it was game 6 not game 1. Gibson’s HR was amazing though.

by JaysSaskatchewan on Oct 28, 2011 8:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, it's hard to beat Kirk Gibson limping around the bases

especially when you are 8. I think objectively, last night’s was better; but that was the greatest moment in baseball history, so I’ll stick with my subjective take.

by gabrielsyme on Oct 28, 2011 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

ya no worries, that was a great moment and more unbelievable than anything one thing that happened last night.

by JaysSaskatchewan on Oct 28, 2011 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh man

Makes you glad the Jays have got Farrell and not one of those horrible guys managing in the World Series.

What a game.

by Woodman663 on Oct 28, 2011 7:11 AM EDT reply actions

RAIN?

forecast for rain???? ill be bowling all night, miss 90% of the game =/

Rent this for cheap!!

by Bowling_Guy25 on Oct 28, 2011 8:08 AM EDT reply actions

The ball was returned to Freese

here from Big League Stew

by JaysSaskatchewan on Oct 28, 2011 9:01 AM EDT reply actions

I would of asked for tickets to tonights game

as well as the bat and team signed ball.

thisrighthere!!!

by TonyFernandezSavedMyLife on Oct 28, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I would have asked for $100K :)

by JaysSaskatchewan on Oct 28, 2011 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Can't believe I missed this.

by Nadia on Oct 28, 2011 11:14 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Know who probably died watching the game?

That guy who bet $250 on the Cardinals winning the World Series at 999:1 odds. He stands to win $249,750.

Man who has four balls cannot walk

by Beer Leaguer on Oct 28, 2011 2:06 PM EDT reply actions

Wow! Forgot about that guy :) At least he already has his 125K too.

by JaysSaskatchewan on Oct 28, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Fox jinx of Rangers

The Texas Rangers have won the World Series," KDFW, the Fox news station in Dallas, sent in a breaking news alert. "Watch coverage on Fox 4 News and myFOXdfw.com.

from here

Doesn’t Fox know that only works for elections?

by JaysSaskatchewan on Oct 28, 2011 2:32 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs