The scoring in Game 3 of the 2011 World Series began in earnest only after a bizarre mistake from the first-base umpire led to four St. Louis Cardinals runs, but after that things went more as expected at the Ballpark in Arlington—the teams combined for six home runs, three of them from repeat history-maker Albert Pujols, and the Cardinals scored in the last six innings for a final score of 16-7.
After Thursday night's pitcher's duel Game 3 was novel, but not exactly a surprise—no park plays smaller than the Ballpark, and each team had prepared contingency plans for this very scenario. As it turns out neither Kyle Lohse nor Matt Harrison escaped the fourth inning, leaving a line of burnt-out relievers in their wakes. The Cardinals needed 47 pitches from Lance Lynn, who went 2.1 innings for the win, and 23 from right-handed set-up man Octavio Dotel, while the Rangers used at least 19 pitches rom Scott Feldman, Mike Gonzalez, and Mark Lowe, and 35 more from Alexi Ogando, who allowed the first of Pujols's home runs after finally retiring Allen Craig.
The Cardinals will send Edwin Jackson to the mound for Game 4, while the Rangers will counter with Derek Holland, who went 16-5 with a 3.95 ERA in his breakout 2011 season. Jake Westbrook, added to the Cardinals' roster prior to the World Series, remains in the background if Jackson earns a quick hook.