ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Game 6 and David Freese gets nearly all the glory and recognition when we look back at the 2011 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers. But do you remember what happened in Game 3?
It was when Albert Pujols had one of the greatest single-game performances in World Series history.
He became only the third player in history to homer three times in a World Series game and went 5 for 6 with six RBI. Babe Ruth, who did it twice, and Reggie Jackson were the others. Pujols' 14 total bases also set a World Series record, while his five hits and six RBI both tied records.
“He’s better than Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson combined,” said then Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman.
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His manager, Tony La Russa called it, "the greatest night in World Series history."
"And we saw it … Show me (a performance) that was better. That would be hard to do," La Russa said. "He’s been great for a long time, but this has got to be the greatest.”
Pujols was believed to be in a bad mood after Game 2. He had gone 0 for 6 with a pair of walks in Games 1 and 2, plus he made an error that lead to the game-tying run in Game 2. He also stirred up some controversy by leaving the clubhouse after the game without speaking to members of the media.
The 16-7 win over the Texas Rangers in Game 3, was Pujols’ 70th postseason game and gave the Cardinals a two-games-to-one lead in the series.
"It was fun to watch him do what he did tonight, and just to be a teammate of his when he did something like that,” pitcher Lance Lynn said. “That’s something I’m going to be able to tell my kids and grandkids that I actually witnessed that in person."
"He’s a super player," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.
"I didn’t walk into the ballpark today thinking that I was going to have a night like this," said Pujols. "I walked into the ballpark with the attitude that I have every day, to help this ballclub win. And I was able to do that, offensively and defensively.
"Just pretty special, you know. But at the same time you need to enjoy this for a moment and be ready to play tomorrow."
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