Michael Young’s sacrifice fly capped a two-run, ninth-inning rally as the Texas Rangers recorded a 2-1 victory over the host St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday to even the World Series at 1-1.
Josh Hamilton hit a game-tying sacrifice fly immediately before Young’s fly ball to center field off Lance Lynn scored Elvis Andrus with the go-ahead run.
Texas closer Neftali Feliz struck out two in the ninth and then retired Rafael Furcal on a fly ball to complete the save.
Game 3 is Saturday in Texas.
Allen Craig’s pinch-hit single in the seventh gave St. Louis a 1-0 lead but closer Jason Motte (0-1) was unable to hold the lead in the ninth.
Ian Kinsler started the Texas uprising with a bloop single and then stole second. Kinsler moved to third on Andrus’ single to center, with Andrus advancing to second when Albert Pujols failed to cut off the throw.
Arthur Rhodes replaced Motte and allowed the game-tying sacrifice fly to Hamilton before Young drove in the tiebreaking run.
David Freese and Nick Punto singled off Rangers starter Colby Lewis in the seventh before the pinch-hitting Craig lined the second pitch he saw from reliever Alexi Ogando to right field to drive in Freese with the Cardinals’ lone run. Craig had the decisive hit off Ogando in St. Louis’ Game 1 victory.
Mike Adams (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth for the Rangers.
Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia allowed three hits and struck out seven in seven scoreless innings. Lewis gave up just one run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings for Texas.
Texas | St. Louis | |
Colby Lewis | Player | Jaime Garcia |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
6.2 | IP | 7.0 |
4 | Strikeouts | 7 |
4 | Hits | 3 |
1.35 | ERA | 0.00 |
Texas | St. Louis | |
Ian Kinsler | Player | Nick Punto |
2 | Hits | 2 |
0 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
2 | TB | 2 |
.667 | Avg | .500 |