Texas Rangers Bounce Back & Beat St. Louis Cardinals in Game 2 of World Series

The Texas Rangers used two sacrifice flies in the top of the ninth inning to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 in Game 2 of the World Series.

You would have thought Rangers manager Ron Washington and his team had been playing National League ball for seasons with the way they manufactured their winning runs.  Ian Kinsler led off the ninth with a single and then stole second. The Rangers next hitter, Elvis Andrus, singled and advanced to second when the Cardinals couldn't get the ball to the cutoff man.  So with men on second and third, and no one out, Tony LaRussa pulled Jason Motte and brought in Arthur Rhodes to face Josh Hamilton.  Hamilton hit a fly ball to right scoring Kinsler and advancing Andrus to third on the out.

LaRussa then promptly Rhodes for Lance Lynn. Lynn then gave up the go-ahead, and winning run, with a Michael Young sacrifice fly to center field making the score 2-1.

"Tonight was one of those great games you will continue to see," Rangers manager Ron Washington told MLB.com. "I've got to say to those of you with a bad heart, watch yourself."

Neftali Feliz came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth for Texas.  He walked the first hitter he faced, Yadier Molina. Gerald Laird then entered the game to pinch-run for Molina. But it was all for naught, as Feliz stuck out Nick Punto and Skip Schumaker and Rafael Furcal flied out to end the game.

Jamie Garcia pitched seven scoreless innings for St. Louis and struck out seven before being pulled for a pinch hitter.

Texas starter Colby Lewis pitched  6 2/3 innings and the Cardinals only run was charged to him after Allen Craig hit a pinch-hit RBI single off Alexi Ogando in the seventh.

Mike Adams got the win for Texas and Feliz the save.  Jason Motte was charged with the loss for the Cardinals.

Games 3, 4 and 5 will take place at Rangers Ballpark on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.