After “A Game 6 Texas Should Have Won,” The Cardinals celebrate “Number 11 in 11.”

Spanish Harlem, NY - The Cardinals counted on veteran starter Chris Carpenter in a decisive 2011 Fall Classic game and he came through after giving up just two runs in the first inning. Carpenter, who had tossed a three-hit shutout vs. the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 5 of the Division Series, took the hill with everything on the line again and the two runs he surrendered over six innings of pitching would be all the Texas Rangers would muster in the final decisive game – making St. Luis ‘World’ Champions for the 11th time in franchise history. So, a slogan emerged from this accomplishment: “The numero 11th on the 11.”

Carpenter who had beaten the Rangers in Game 1, also had limited them to two runs over six innings in St. Louis' 3-2 win. Carpenter squared off against Texas left-hander Matt Harrison who had gotten knocked around for five runs (three earned) on six hits through 3 2/3 innings in a 16-7 loss in Game 3.

So it was that after St. Louis, down to its final strike on two occasions in Game 6 on Thursday, stunned Texas, and winning 10-9 on David Freese's walk-off solo home run off reliever Mark Lowe in the 11th inning to force Game 7.

It will long be remembered in Game 6 -- that one strike on multiple occasions -- was all that separated the Texas Rangers from winning their first World Series.

After losing to the San Francisco Giants in 2010, once again, World Series accolades and history was denied to Texas whose former owner and President George W Bush would be seen in every home game in Arlington.

St. Luis with their remarkable late-season run and the incredible Game 6 victory became the team of destiny.

Kudos to the Latino players in both teams with outstanding performances and in some cases what characterizes baseball – really: a game mostly of failure.

Albert Pujols hit 3 homeruns in one game – a feat done by two other players in WS history.

Boricua Yadier Molina with his excellent catching of every game for the Cardinals batted .333 with 9 RBI; and Mexican Jaime Garcia who pitched Game 2 did not allow a run in 7 innings of that game (Cardinals would lose 2-1).

For Texas Adrián Beltre batted .300 and one of his homeruns against Chris Carpenter in Game 5 contributed to the Texas victory by tying the game a 2-2. Nelson Cruz saw his NCL performance of batting .364 reduced to .200 and his home run total of 6 go down to 2, his presence in the lineup was always a threat. His almost smacked third home run of the series off Chris Carpenter in Game 7 was evident of that.

Alexi Orgando had a poor WS. His ERA was 10.12 in 6 game appearances even though it all summed up to 2.2 innings pitched, but he gave up 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits while walking mucho batters: a whopping 7 total ( struck out 3 and gave up a home run).

Neftalí Feliz saved Games 2 and game 5, but blew a save in the crucial game 6. His last name which also means Happy in Spanish was not lived up to in a game that will go down as “The Game Texas Should Have Won.”

First Published in www.latinosports.com