World Series Champs

The St. Louis Cardinals are World Series champions for the 11th time in franchise history, with Allen Craig's home run and David Freese's continued heroics backing Chris Carpenter's remarkably gutty short-rest start to put the Cardinals on top in one of the most incredible postseason runs in franchise history. A night after Game 6's ineffable comebacks the Cardinals took the lead early and held it, and that was all. 

The Cardinals came back early this time; with two outs Albert Pujols and Lance Berkmanwalked, setting up David Freese for yet another remarkable double for his 20th and 21st RBI of the 2011 postseason. As Chris Carpenter buckled down and began to pitch like Chris Carpenter again Allen Craig homered, capping off his own incredible World Series run, to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead. Impressive plate discipline plated two more in the fifth, whenYadier Molina walked in a run and Rafael Furcal was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, while Molina struck again to add a sixth run in the seventh inning.

But in the end, of course, it came down to the Cardinals' bullpen. Octavio Dotel and Arthur Rhodes staunched the Rangers' seventh-inning threat with three quick outs after replacing Carpenter. Jason Motte was as efficient as ever in the ninth inning, and when he got series nemesis Mike Napoli to fly out to Magic Turtle owner Allen Craig that was it: The Cardinals had won the 11th World Series championship in their remarkable history.