Game 3 Recap

Today marks the second straight week the city of St. Louis plays two sports in the same city. Last week the Rams followed the Cardinals into the Milwaukee/Green Bay market. This week, as the World Series continues tonight with Game 4 in Texas, the Rams will be in Dallas. And from what we saw in Game 3, it’s going to be a challenge for the football team to match the baseball team in offensive output. The Cardinals set the bar high with a 16-run outburst last night against the Rangers to grab a 2-1 series lead.

Albert Pujols hit three home runs as part of a five-hit night. Every home run came in the sixth inning or later, the decisive point in the game. The offenses were trading blows early and St. Louis’ lead was 8-6 after five. This was a spot where the deeper Texas bullpen had an opportunity to step and win their team a game, but it was St. Louis’ pen that stabilized and held Texas to one run in the final four innings, while their own offense tacked on eight more.

The struggles of Josh Hamilton continue, as he went 1-for-5 with a lone single. By no means is any offensive player at fault for a loss when you score seven runs, but the fact Hamilton indicated he may have a sports hernia would explain his loss of power in October.

Texas realistically needs to win tonight and tomorrow. Not since 1979 has a team trailed 3-2 in the Series and won two straight on the road to wrap it up. As for St. Louis, Pujols’ heroics means he at least gets one more game in front of the home crowd—or goes home Monday night to a cheering crowd with a World Series ring.

Game 4 is tonight with Derek Holland and Edwin Jackson on the mound. With Ram quarterback Sam Bradford out for the afternoon game in Dallas, the people of St. Louis are surely giving thanks for baseball right now. And with Indianapolis-New Orleans as the Sunday Night NFL game, the rest of America should be as well.