"The Cardinals spent the aftermath of Wednesday's Game 6 postponement answering questions about their status as an offensive contradiction: They bludgeoned the Texas Rangers in Game 3 for a franchise World Series record 16 runs and endured four games of missed chances, tough lefthanded pitching and fuzzy strike zones.

After leading the National League in runs this season, the Cardinals face elimination tonight at Busch Stadium because they have averaged fewer than two runs in the four games when Albert Pujols hasn't contributed three home runs.

For the moment, Rangers manager Ron Washington perceives a weakness and doesn't care if everyone knows about it. He is willing to make the Cardinals' cleanup hitter, whoever it is, beat him."