Schedule and 2011 Results
Regular Season Records: St. Louis 90-72, Texas 96-66
Game 1 on Wednesday, 19 October: Texas loses at St. Louis, 3-runs-2
Game 2 on Thursday, 20 October: Texas wins at St. Louis, 2-runs-1
Game 3 on Saturday, 22 October: St. Louis wins at Texas, 16-runs-7
Game 4 on Sunday, 23 October: St. Louis loses at Texas, 4-runs-nil
Game 5 on Monday, 24 October: St. Louis loses at Texas, 4-runs-2
Game 6 on Thursday, 27 October: Texas loses at St. Louis, 10-runs-9 (11 innings)
Game 7 on Friday, 28 October: Texas loses at St. Louis, 6-runs-2

SERIES NOTES:

After Game 7: The St. Louis Cardinals hosted and defeated the Texas Rangers 6-runs-2 for a 4-games-3 victory in MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1154. With the series 1154 victory, the St. Louis Cardinals improve their best-of-7 MLB playoff series record to 16-11 overall and 11-7 in the MLB Finals; with the series 1154 loss, the Texas Rangers see their best-of-7 MLB playoff series record fall to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in the MLB Finals. The win order for the victorious St. Louis Cardinals in series 1154 was WLWLLWW: Series 1154 thus becomes the third MLB Finals, the fourth MLB series (all rounds), and the fourteenth MLB/NBA/NHL series (all rounds) to follow such a win order to completion; previously, the St. Louis Cardinals posted a WLWLLWW win order in series 27 (the 1934 MLB Finals) and series 499 (the 1987 National League Championship Series in the MLB Semifinals round). The Fall 2011 best-of-7 playoff season required a total of nineteen games - the most since Fall 2003, when 20 MLB Semifinals and MLB Finals games were required to crown an MLB champion. St. Louis outscored Texas 38-runs-30 in series 1154: Each team thus scored fewer total runs in the seven games of series 1154 than it did in its preceding MLB Semifinals-round series lasting six games (39 by Texas in series 1152; 43 by St. Louis in series 1153). With the series 1154 Game 7 win, the St. Louis Cardinals notch their MLB-leading eleventh Game 7 victory and their eighth Finals-round Game 7 victory (which moves the Cardinals one ahead of the NBA Boston Celtics for most MLB/NBA/NHL Finals-round Game 7 victories). Teams such as St. Louis which win Game 1 of the MLB Finals at home now have an active eleven-series winning streak.

After Game 6: In a game in which the hosts trailed by three runs after seven full innings, and were one strike away from defeat in the bottom of both the ninth and tenth innings, the Cardinals in St. Louis rallied to defeat the Texas Rangers 10-runs-9, thereby knotting MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1154 at three-games-all. In best-of-7 MLB playoff Game 7s, the St. Louis Cardinals have a record of 10-4 in all rounds irrespective of site, 7-3 in the MLB Finals irrespective of site, 6-1 in all rounds at home, and 4-1 in the MLB Finals at home. Series 1154 Game 7 will be the first Game 7 for the Texas Rangers. The ten best-of-7 MLB playoff Game 7 victories by the St. Louis Cardinals are the most among MLB teams (next are the New York Yankees, with six). The seven best-of-7 MLB Finals Game 7 victories by the St. Louis Cardinals tie them with the NBA Boston Celtics for the most MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 Finals-round Game 7 victories. The sole Cardinals Game 7 loss in St. Louis occurred in series 201, to the Detroit Tigers in the 1968 MLB Finals. With 19 total runs, series 1154 Game 6 becomes the highest-scoring Game 6 in best-of-7 MLB Finals history, breaking the previous record of 18 total runs as set in series 29 by the New York Giants and New York Yankees in the 1936 MLB Finals. The last team in a best-of-7 MLB playoff series to be tied 3-games-all @ HHVVVH but lose Game 7 at home was the New York Mets in series 988, to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2006 National League Championship Series (so it is that those 2006 Cardinals set a favorable precedent for the 2011 Texas Rangers against the 2011 edition of the Cardinals). In the history of best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL playoff series, MLB/NBA/NHL teams (all rounds) have a 198-98 (.669) Game 7 record at home, MLB teams (all rounds) have a 27-22 (.551) Game 7 record at home, MLB/NBA/NHL teams (Finals round) have a 44-24 (.647) Game 7 record at home, and MLB teams (Finals round) have an 18-17 (.514) Game 7 record at home. In best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL Finals, home teams in Game 7 had an 18-Game 7 winning streak (starting in series 411 by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1982 MLB Finals, through series 971 by the NHL Carolina Hurricanes in the 2006 NHL Finals (inclusive), and broken in series 1070 by the NHL Detroit Red Wings in the 2009 NHL Finals; since that Detroit loss in 2009, MLB/NBA/NHL teams have had a 1-1 home Finals Game 7 record). In best-of-7 MLB Finals, home teams in Game 7 have an active eight-Game 7 winning streak (starting in series 411 by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1982 MLB Finals). The 2011 St. Louis Cardinals in series 1154 Game 6 became the only team ever to plate runs in the eighth, ninth, and tenth innings of a best-of-7 MLB playoff game (all rounds). The St. Louis Cardinals trailed series 1154 Game 6 by three runs after 7.0 innings, by two runs after eight innings, and by two runs after 9.5 innings. In the 890 best-of-7 format MLB playoff games (all rounds) from 1905 through 2011 MLB Finals Game 5, inclusive, home teams such as the Cardinals which trailed by three runs after 7.0 innings had only a 1-40 (.024) game record (the sole home winner: the Boston Red Sox, in series 1053 against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays in 2008 American League Championship Series Game 5). In said history, home teams such as the Cardinals which trailed by two runs after 8.0 innings had only a 5-72 (.065) game record. In said history, home teams such as the Cardinals which trailed by two runs after 9.5 innings had only a 2-65 (.030) game record (the two winners: the Boston Braves, in series 10 over the Philadelphia Athletics in Game 3 of the 1914 MLB Finals; the New York Mets, in series 475 over the Boston Red Sox in Game 6 of the 1986 MLB Finals).

After Game 5: The Texas Rangers hosted and defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4-runs-2 to take a 3-games-2 lead in MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1154. When leading a best-of-7 MLB playoff series 3-games-2, the Texas Rangers have a 2-0 overall series record, a 2-0 overall Game 6 record, a 0-0 Finals-round series record, and a 0-0 Finals-round Game 6 record. When trailing a best-of-7 MLB playoff series 3-games-2, the St. Louis Cardinals have a 6-2 overall series record, a 6-2 overall Game 6 record, a 4-1 Finals-round series record with an active three-series winning streak, and a 4-1 Finals-round Game 6 record with an active three-Game 6 winning streak. The Texas Rangers trailed Game 6 by two runs after 2.0 innings: In the history of best-of-7 MLB playoff games, home teams down two runs after 2.0 innings had only a 23-48 (.324) game record. In the 2011 NHL Finals, the Vancouver Canucks in series 1136 led 3-games-2 but lost Games 6-7 and the series; in the 2011 NBA Finals, the Dallas Mavericks in series 1151 led 3-games-2 and won Game 6 and the series; the 2011 Texas Rangers now seek to emulate their basketball counterparts in the Metroplex. In best-of-7 MLB playoff series (all rounds), teams leading 3-games-2 irrespective of site have an active seven-series winning streak and an active six-Game 6 winning streak. In consideration of win/site order, once before had the St. Louis Cardinals won Game 1 and lost Game 2 at home, and then won Game 3 but lost Games 4-5 on the road: In series 499, St. Louis did so against the San Francisco Giants in the 1987 National League Championship Series - back home for Games 6-7, St. Louis posted a 1-run-nil Game 6 win and a 6-runs-nil Game 7 win for the series victory; so it is that the Cardinals seek to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their 1987 counterparts one year early.

After Game 4: The Texas Rangers hosted and defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4-runs-nil to tie MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1154 at 2-games-all. When tied 2-games-all in a best-of-7 MLB playoff series, the St. Louis Cardinals have a 12-2 overall series record with an active three-series winning streak, a 7-7 overall Game 5 record, a 7-2 Finals-round series record, and a 4-5 Finals-round Game 5 record. The Texas Rangers are tied 2-games-all in a best-of-7 MLB playoff series for the first time in series 1154. The shutout defeat suffered by the St. Louis Cardinals in series 1154 Game 4 is the first in an MLB Finals game since the Texas Rangers themselves were shut out in series 1121 Games 2 and 4 (in the 2010 MLB Finals, by the San Francisco Giants). In the history of best-of-7 MLB Finals, teams such as the Texas Rangers which post a Game 4 shutout victory to tie the series 2-games-all with Games 1-2 on the road and Games 3-4 at home have a 0-4 Game 5 record and a 1-3 series record (series 5, by the Detroit Tigers in the 1909 MLB Finals; series 13, by the New York Giants in the 1917 MLB Finals; series 24, by the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1931 MLB Finals [losing to the St. Louis Cardinals]; series 91, by the New York Yankees in the 1952 MLB Finals [won the series]). So it is that the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals now look to their predecessors of eighty years ago for a favorable precedent. In series 1154, it now happens that the St. Louis Cardinals scored four more runs in Game 3 than both teams tallied in Games 1, 2, and 4; only once before had a team scored more runs in Game 3 of a best-of-7 MLB playoff series than both teams had scored in Games 1, 2, and 4 of that series (in series 1, by the New York Giants [two more runs] in the 1905 MLB Finals).

After Game 3: With MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1154 in Texas, the visiting St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers 16-runs-7 to take a 2-games-1 series lead. When leading a best-of-7 MLB playoff series 2-games-1, the St. Louis Cardinals have an 11-3 overall series record (with an active four-series winning streak), a 6-8 Game 4 record, a 7-2 Finals series record, and a 5-4 Finals Game 4 record. When trailing a best-of-7 MLB playoff series 2-games-1, the Texas Rangers have a 0-1 overall series record, a 0-1 overall Game 4 record, a 0-1 Finals series record, and a 0-1 Finals Game 4 record. The sixteen Game 3 runs by St. Louis tie the San Francisco Giants (in series 872, in 2002 MLB Finals Game 5) and the New York Yankees (in series 137, in 1960 MLB Finals Game 2) for third-most runs in a best-of-7 MLB playoff game and second-most runs in a best-of-7 MLB Finals game. The sixteen Game 3 runs by St. Louis set a record for most runs by one team in Game 3 of a best-of-7 MLB Finals series, breaking the old record of 14 runs (set by the Florida Marlins in series 747, in Game 3 of the 1997 MLB Finals in a 14-runs-11 win over the Cleveland Indians). The 23 total runs by St. Louis and Texas in Game 3 make series 1154 Game 3 the fourth-highest scoring best-of-7 MLB playoff game ever (by both teams) and the third-highest scoring best-of-7 MLB Finals game ever (by both teams). The nine-run margin of victory by St. Louis in series 1154 Game 3 is the largest in a best-of-7 MLB Finals game since series 1121 Game 2, in which the San Francisco Giants hosted and shut out the Texas Rangers 9-runs-nil in Game 2 of the 2010 MLB Finals. In 2011 Finals-round series, the other two teams to take a 2-games-1 series lead with Games 1-2 at home and Game 3 on the road (the NHL Vancouver Canucks in series 1136; the NBA Miami Heat in series 1151) lost those series (Vancouver in seven games; Miami in six). In best-of-7 MLB playoff series (all rounds), teams leading 2-games-1 irrespective of site (such as St. Louis) are on an active eleven-series winning streak; such teams also were on an active twelve-Game 4 winning streak until the St. Louis Cardinals themselves lost series 1153 Game 4 to the Milwaukee Brewers. In best-of-7 MLB playoff series (all rounds), teams leading 2-games-1 with Games 1-2 at home and Game 3 on the road (such as St. Louis) are on an active nine-series winning streak (begun by St. Louis in series 937, the 2004 National League Championship Series) and eight-Game 4 winning streak. In the history of best-of-7 MLB playoff series from 1905 through the 2011 MLB Semifinals, inclusive, only once before had a team won Game 3 by 9+ runs to take a 2-games-1 lead with Games 1-2 at home and Game 3 on the road: In series 116, the New York Yankees did so, defeating the Braves in Milwaukee 12-runs-3 in Game 3 of the 1957 MLB Finals; Milwaukee would win the 1957 MLB Finals in seven games. In series 1154 Game 3, the St. Louis Cardinals broke an obscure best-of-7 MLB Finals record set in series 1: Most Game 3 runs by one team in excess of the total runs by both teams in both Game 1 and Game 2 (8 such runs). In series 1 Game 3, the New York Giants plated nine runs in a 9-runs-nil victory over the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1905 MLB Finals; in Games 1-2, New York and Philadelphia combined for a total of only six runs, leading to a three-run differential . . . arcane as it is, that mark had never been topped until series 1154.

After Game 2: Trailing by a run heading into the ninth inning, the visiting Texas Rangers rallied for a 2-runs-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals to tie MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1154 at 1-game-all. When tied 1-game-all in a best-of-7 MLB playoff series, the St. Louis Cardinals have a 13-4 overall series record with a three-series winning streak, a 12-5 overall Game 3 record with a three-Game 3 winning streak, a 10-2 Finals series record, and an 8-4 Finals Game 3 record with a four-Game 3 winning streak, while the Texas Rangers have a 1-0 overall series record, a 1-0 overall Game 3 record, a 0-0 Finals series record, and a 0-0 Finals Game 3 record. In the 886 best-of-7 format MLB playoff games from 1905 through the 2011 MLB Finals Game 1, inclusive, road teams such as Texas which trailed by one run after 7.5 innings had only a 9-92 (.089) game record. Series 1154 becomes the first MLB Finals series to open with a win/site order of WL @ HH since series 747 (the 1997 MLB Finals, in which the Florida Marlins opened with that win/site order against the Cleveland Indians). Twice before did the St. Louis Cardinals open a best-of-7 format MLB Finals round with a WL @ HH win/site order: In series 165, they did so against the New York Yankees in the 1964 MLB Finals and won; in series 201, they did so against the Detroit Tigers in the 1968 MLB Finals and lost.

After Game 1: The St. Louis Cardinals hosted and defeated the Texas Rangers 3-runs-2 to take a 1-game-nil lead in MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1154. When leading a best-of-7 MLB playoff series 1-game-nil, the St. Louis Cardinals have a 6-3 overall series record, a 2-7 overall Game 2 record, a 4-2 Finals-round series record, and a 1-5 Finals-round Game 2 record. When trailing a best-of-7 MLB playoff series 1-game-nil, the Texas Rangers have a 1-1 overall series record, a 1-1 overall Game 2 record, a 0-1 Finals-round series record, and a 0-1 Finals-round Game 2 record. Teams such as St. Louis which win Game 1 of the MLB Finals at home have an active ten-series winning streak and an active seven-Game 2 winning streak. In the history of best-of-7 MLB Finals series, teams winning Game 1 at home by only one run have a 12-6 series record.

Pre-series assessment: In the 2011 regular season, St. Louis finished six games behind Texas. From 1905 through the 2011 MLB Semifinals round, when MLB teams trailed their best-of-7 playoff series opponents by six regular-season games, they have posted a 4-7 (.364) best-of-7 series record in those series against those opponents. The St. Louis Cardinals themselves have a 2-2 best-of-7 MLB playoff series record against opponents whom they trailed by six regular-season games (losing series 21 [the 1928 MLB Finals to the New York Yankees], winning series 165 [the 1964 MLB Finals over the New York Yankees], losing series 201 [the 1968 MLB Finals to the Detroit Tigers], and winning series 1153 [the just-completed 2011 National League Championship Series over the Milwaukee Brewers]). MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1154 is the fourth best-of-7 playoff series for Texas, and the 27th for St. Louis. In best-of-7 playoff series, Texas has a 2-1 series record, a 0-1 Finals series record, and a 1-2 Game 1 record, while St. Louis has a 15-11 series record, a 10-7 Finals series record, and a 9-17 Game 1 record. Series 1154 is the first best-of-7 meeting between the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals.