Texas Rangers Win Game 5 Against St. Louis 4-2

The Texas Rangers hold the lead in the World Series for the first time in franchise history, after last night’s 4-2 Game 5 win, and can win their franchise’s first World Series Title by winning Game 6 (or the possible Game 7) on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals.

One thing, besides Mike Napoli, in the Rangers favor is that Texas hasn’t lost consecutive games since August.

Texas ended Game 5 with catcher Napoli chasing down strike three and the 27^th out as the pitch deflected off his left knee and was rolling down in the direction of first place. Lance Berkman was running down the line but Napoli corralled the ball and underhanded the final out to first baseman Mitch Moreland.

Napoli was solid with his bat as well delivering the clutch hit last night, belting the tie-breaking two-run double in the eighth inning that gave the Rangers their 4-2 lead.

Napoli's go-ahead stroke came off Marc Rzepczynski, right after a potential double-play ball slipped away from the St. Louis reliever. More bruising, at least to the Cardinals: Rzepczynski wasn't even supposed to face Napoli.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said he called down to the bullpen earlier in the inning and wanted Rzepczynski and closer Jason Motte to get ready. Instead, bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist heard only Rzepczynski at first. La Russa called again to ask for Motte and this time Lilliquist heard "Lynn," as in reliever Lance Lynn.

St. Louis struck first in the game scoring two runs in the second inning off Rangers starting pitcher C.J. Wilson.

Texas evened it up with a pair of solo shots off the Red Birds Chris Carpenter as Mitch Moreland blasted one to the upper-deck in right field in the 3^rd inning, and Adrian Beltre followed suit in the 6^th hitting one from his knees that just cleared the left field wall.

Texas will try to wrap it up and claim the Rangers first World Series title in Game 6 on Wednesday night in St. Louis, with Colby Lewis facing Jaime Garcia. The weather forecast for Busch Stadium is calling for rain and temperatures around 50.