By ,
Published November 20, 2014
Allen Craig's home run two batters into Game 0, after three innings.
The defending AL champions evened the best-of-seven series by rallying for a 2-1 win Thursday thanks to ninth inning sacrifice flies from Josh Hamilton and Michael Young, but Matt Harrison gave up the early lead on Saturday.
Craig smacked an 0-1 fastball well over the wall in left field just after Rafael Furcal grounded out to start the contest. Craig had the go-ahead, pinch-hit RBI single in a 3-2 St. Louis win in the series opener and knocked in the only run for his team with another pinch-hit single in Game 2. Craig started in right field Saturday with Lance Berkman serving as the designated hitter.
Craig is the third player with an RBI in each of his first three career World Series plate appearances, joining Ted Kluszewski (CWS, 1959) and Dusty Rhodes (NYG, 1954).
It was the 10th straight postseason game the Cardinals have scored first. They had also gone 248 World Series plate appearances in between home runs, last done by Albert Pujols in Game 1 of 2006 against Detroit.
Kyle Lohse, who entered tonight's game 0-4 with a 5.09 ERA in eight career postseason appearances, fanned Texas' first two batters in a 1-2-3 bottom of the first.
Adrian Beltre singled and Nelson Cruz walked, both with one out in the Texas second, but Mike Napoli then flied out to right and David Murphy grounded out to Pujols at first.
Harrison, who hasn't lost a start since August 24 against Boston, got the benefit of a double play in the third inning after Ian Kinsler committed an error. Craig was then called out on strikes.
Yorvit Torrealba came within inches of a leadoff double in the Texas third, but the ball caromed barely foul. He struck out. Lohse worked around a one-out walk to Ian Kinsler to keep the Cardinals in front.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/craigs-hr-has-cardinals-on-top-in-game-3