Derek Holland was impressive tonight. His mustache? Not so much. Mike Napoli jacked a massive home run to more or less put the game on ice, particularly with the way Holland was pitching. And when, with one out in the top of the ninth, Ron Washington lifted Holland for Neftali Feliz, Holland received a well-deserved standing ovation from the Rangers' faithful.

His mustache did not receive the ovation. Just so we're clear. Although nobody would blame Cardinals hitters for being a little creeped out by it, which may have been some advantage for Texas. The only guy who apparently wasn't phased was Lance Berkman, whose two hits were the only two hits St. Louis managed the entire evening.

That's all I've got tonight. Edwin Jackson wasn't awful but he clearly wasn't good enough, although he has Mitchell Boggs to thank for serving up that homer to Napoli with a pair of runners on base. But the did walk seven (yes, seven) while allowing just three hits. If he doesn't walk so many people, it's definitely a different ballgame.

See you in the morning, folks. Hope you enjoyed your weekend.

For the first few innings this game was incredible. The Cardinals would score a few runs, then the Rangers would, and then they'd trade punches again. But the Cards tallied multi-run innings in four consecutive frames, and scored in every inning except the second and third. Even the Rangers couldn't match that pace.

Albert Pujols was the star of the night, undeniably. After grounding out in the top of the first, he began what would eventually be a route with a leadoff single in the fourth. That was a three-run inning, as was the fifth with he also led off with a single. But he was just warming up.

In spite of the Cardinals putting up seven runs between the fourth and fifth, the Rangers put up six, meaning they trailed 8-6 with plenty of game left to go. It looked like it would be a slug fest to the end. Pujols helped St. Louis keep up their end of that bargain.

Homer number one came in the top of the sixth. Alexi Ogando hasn't had a good series, and his third appearance didn't start any better when he walked Ryan Theriot and gave up a single to Rafael Furcal to kick off the inning. He did strike out Allen Craig, so it was nice that he finally won one of those battles. But then he was destroyed.

The official total on this Pujols homer was 430-some feet. But it looked like it went a lot further than that. It bounced off the facade just under the second deck in left field. Did I mention it was a three-run jackhammer? After the Rangers and their fans had retaliated against two multi-run innings in a row from the Cards with a pair of their own, it was like a dagger, leading to a four-run inning that left the score 12-6 when the third out was recorded.

Pujols blasted a two-run shot the very next inning. 14-6.

In the ninth, Pujols would homer yet again, putting us as our final score of 16-7. He was 5-for-6 with six RBI and 14....FOURTEEN total bases.

Congratulations to Pujols, who ties records held by Reggie Jackson (1977) and Babe Ruth (1926, 1928) for the most home runs hit in a World Series game, and who ties Paul Molitor (1982) for the most hits (five) in a World Series game.

It's been said that it's hard to envision the Rangers winning three of the next four to take home the World Series title. But last night was just one game. If the Rangers win tonight, the series is tied again and it's a whole new series. Nothing is written in stone yet.

Except that performance from one of the greatest hitters to ever play the game.

The way that Colby Lewis and Jaime Garcia were pitching tonight, it looked like one run would win it. Going into the bottom of the seventh inning both pitchers had strung nothing but zeros across the board, each picking up some big strikeouts and styming their opposition in run scoring opportunities.

So, when Allen Craig, again, comes in with a pinch hit RBI single to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh, I thought it was over. Bullpens on both sides are outstanding, and a late lead is as safe as safe can be in a game of baseball.

Naturally, the baseball gods are not content with the status quo. Ever. And certainly not in the world series.

Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus were both massive in the top of the ninth. Kinsler dropped in a Texas Leaguer for a single before stealing a base off Jason Motte and Yadier Molina. Molina's relay to second base was an absolute laser, and when Kinsler was called safe I initially thought it was a mistake. But replays showed that Kinsler's hand strapped second base a nanosecond prior to the tag. And then, off the immoveable force of Motte, Andrus came through as well. His single and a misplay on the relay from the outfield put runners on second and third with nobody out.

A sacrifice fly from Josh Hamilton later, the Rangers had tied the game. Hit repeat for the next batter, Michael Young, and suddenly a game that was in the bag had gone askew. And this time, it was the Ranger closer who had the opportunity to close the door. Neftali Feliz did just that.

With the series tied at one, and all of the above fully understood, the real reason the Cardinals lost is because of how the bottom of the seventh ended. Nick Punto was called out for running outside the baselines. Here are two accurate illustrations.

There was no doubt about Mike Napoli’s home run. A huge shot into the gap and over the fence, it was a no-doubter (a term which, unless I’m mistaken, doesn’t actually exist outside of the sporting world) that tied the game at two and reset expectations for the rest of the game. But that was the only sure thing last night.

The second out of the game is a great first example. As a chopper from Elvis Andrus forced Albert Pujols to his right, it was a matter of inches that separated not just Pujols from snagging the ball but from everything that Chris Carpenter did right. Carpenter, moving to the bag in his only option to get the out, caught the throw from Pujols and dove for first base in one motion. It was an amazing play, and part of what made it so great was that there were so many moments where something could have gone wrong. If anything is off on that play, Andrus reaches first, and who knows what happens after that.

All three runs for the Cardinals were scored thanks to a matter of inches. Lance Berkman’s two-run chopper of a double bounced in foul territory in front of the plate before veering fair and over Michael Young’s head at first base. When Allen Craig’s single broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth, Nelson Cruz missed the catch by two inches. If he dives instead, or runs through the ball, he might have made the catch to end the inning. But he slid, and the ball bounced a fraction of a second before he could get there, and it ended up being the run that made the difference in the game.

Finally, the mystery over the phantom toe ball in the top of the ninth inning: with one out, Adrian Beltre appeared to foul a ball off of his left foot which grounded to third base. Of course Daniel Descalso fielded the ball and threw onto first for out number two. Beltre and Ron Washington would argue the call to no avail. And one batter later the game was over.

Replay over the heat vision camera showed that, technically, yes, the ball did bounce off of Beltre’s foot. Barely. The edge of his shoe just barely lights up. Take a look.

Correctly calling the ball foul may or may not have changed the outcome of the game, and if one of the teams had a more significant lead then it may not have mattered, but in a one run game every out counts. It’s unfortunate the play wasn’t called correctly.

Would the Rangers have mounted a comeback against Jason Motte? Probably not, not the way he’s been throwing. But we’re back to a game of inches. A fraction of an inch one way and the ball obviously hits Beltre’s foot, even to the naked eye, and he can battle for at least one more pitch. A fraction of an inch another way and the ball will either be foul or fair and it’s not a big deal because it’s an easy call.

For me, the bottom line is that it was a good game. And as a lover of baseball, that’s all I want.