[luckymann]

I’m not afraid to admit that I would have been mildly disappointed if this series had turned out as one-sided as it looked to be in Games 1 thru 3. But I never saw the Cards making it all the way back from 0-3 to this point in time. After what went on in the regular season, a Game 7 seems only fitting.

Like two battle-scarred prizefighters, Cooke and Rasmussen stepped back into the ring for the decider. And, oh what a show they put on. The Cards went ahead with 2 in the top 1st, with 2 key errors meaning both were unearned, shifting all of the pressure onto the home team. And from there, Rasmussen took charge, never letting the A’s hitters get anything going as he gave up just 4 hits (and not more than one in an inning) in a remarkable performance that will earn him instant cult hero status. Another unearned run in the 7th put St Louis out by 3, and the A’s bats stayed quiet for the remainder as the Cards capped a stunning comeback in the finest style possible. Cooke did all he could, pitching a complete game, but it wasn’t to be as the Cards were triumphant in a classic inaugural FL World Series. Cards 3B JP Crawford was named MVP for his .478 / 3 RBI effort.