2011 World Series, Game 2: Rangers even series by playing Cardinals' game

Yes, the Texas Rangers can also perfect the National League style of small-ball play to manufacture runs in an ugly, yet effective fashion.

That was the recipe for success in a memorable Rangers' 2-1 rally over the Cardinals on Thursday night in Game 2 of the World Series in St. Louis.

Series tied, 1-1.

The beauty about the way this team is constructed is the countless number of ways it can produce a victory. Earlier in the playoffs, the Rangers eliminated the Tigers with an exclamation point, 15-5. Thursday night, Texas hadn't produced any runs until the top of the ninth inning. Two sacrifice flies and daredevil-ish base running sealed this one. Truth be told, it was one of the most satisfying Rangers victories in franchise history.

Had the Rangers lost, they would have dug themselves into an 0-2 hole. The chances of coming back from that deficit are not good. Instead, one inning - of course, the final inning - was all it took to change the feel and momentum of the World Series. Texas heads back home for three straight games in Arlington with a victory fresh in mind.

Before the World Series started, I said I'd be happy with a split in St. Louis in the first two games. Now, let's roll the dice in Arlington and see where it lands.

Thursday night's ninth-inning rally against Cardinals reliever Jason Motte did not win any style points, but that's what made it so pretty. The Rangers beat the Cardinals playing a St. Louis brand of baseball.

Ian Kinsler began the inning with a bloop single over the head of Cardinals shortstop Rafael Furcal. A few pitches later, Kinsler stole second and barely (and I mean barely) beat the lazerbeam throw from Yadier Molina.

Elvis Andrus followed with a single toward the gap that was cut off before reaching the ally. Kinsler thought about going home and took a wide turn at third base. Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay heaved a throw from the outfield with the intention of the ball making its way to home plate so Kinsler couldn't score. An alert Andrus scampered from first to second when Albert Pujols did not cut the throw off, letting it roll down toward home plate. Second and third, no outs, St. Louis ahead, 1-0.

Josh Hamilton followed Andrus with a sacrifice fly, which scored Kinsler from third and, arguably more importantly, moved the speedy Andrus from second to third. One out, runner on third.

Michael Young, like Hamilton in the previous at-bat, lifted a fly ball to the outfield that scored Andrus and gave us the lead. And that was all the scoring. No Texas-style big flies, nothing like that. Just old-fashioned, NL-branded, grind-it-out baseball. Thing of beauty.

Neftali Feliz shut the door in the bottom of the ninth, and we have a new series.

I can't stress enough the value of Andrus to the Rangers, and that was more than evident on Thursday night. I'd estimate the Rangers would have lost the game, 3-0 or 4-0 had Andrus not been in the lineup. The 23-year old made two spectacular plays from shortstop, further cementing his status as one of the most dynamic defensive players the game has to offer. In one of the dynamite plays, Andrus ranged to his left, dove for the ball, and flipped it with his glove, falling down, to Kinsler at second for a force out. It was one of the best defensive plays I saw all season. 

On offense, Andrus produced the single in the ninth, then had the presence of mind to take second base when the throw from the outfield sailed toward the catcher, and not the infield.

Big-time weapon.

Game 3 is Saturday night, when Matt Harrison takes the hill for the Rangers to oppose Kyle Lohse. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.

Harrison has pitched twice in these playoffs, going five innings in both starts that came away from Arlington. He's 1-0 in those starts. Strangely, his road ERA (2.99) was better than his home era (3.80) this season, but hopefully he shows solid control and doesn't walk many people. When the Rangers have lost games lately, the starting pitching has walked a ton of guys. I'm not saying there's a direct correlation, but it's a contributing factor.

Weather is supposed to be perfect: sunny with a high of 83, low of 62.

It's great that this series is tied, 1-1, and the bats still haven't woken up yet. Nothing like the Ballpark in Arlington to fix that problem.