Following a wild, 11-inning Game 6 that the Rangers let slip through their fingers several times before the Cardinals finally won 10-9 to even the series; tonight's Game 7 in St. Louis (6:05pm MT on Fox) will crown the 2011 World Champion. Chris Carpenter is scheduled to start for the Cardinals, with Matt Harrison thowing for the Rangers.

Whatever happens, whether the St. Louis Cardinals or Texas Rangers win, they’ll have a hard time topping Thursday night.

“You had to be here to believe it,” St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said.

In one of the greatest thrillers in baseball history, the Cardinals twice rallied when they were down to their last strike of the season. First, Freese saved them with a two-run triple in the ninth, then Lance Berkman(notes) delivered a tying single in the 10th.

And when Freese led off the bottom of the 11th with his shot to beat Texas 10-9 and stomped on the plate, this Game 6 had already been stamped forever.

“Turned out to be one for the ages,” said Daniel Descalso(notes), who keyed a Cardinals comeback.

A Series that was dismissed by many around the country before it began for lacking glamour teams suddenly has turned into must-see TV. And fans can savor the prospect of the first World Series to reach Game 7 since 2002, when the Angels beat the Giants.

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