[Lefty Noob]

The pregame festivities are wrapping up and the first game is about to start. Two rookies are starting a World Series game for the first time in World Series history. Which one has the better performance? Can either one handle the pressure of the spotlight?

These and other questions are about to be answered. Let's PLAY BALL!

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[Lefty Noob]

Reyes gets in an early jam, runners on 1st and 2nd, and suddenly forgets his signs. Molina has to come out to the mound twice, back to back, with Guillen at the plate. Guillen singles and Monroe scores. Tigers take an early 1-0 lead.

[Lefty Noob]

Pudge Rodriguez flies out, and the inning ends with the score Detroit 1, St. Louis 0.

[Lefty Noob]

Scott Rolen just took a high Verlander fastball out of the park. The solo homer ties the game, 1-1.

[Lefty Noob]

With Molina on second and one out, Verlander gets Eckstein to strike out, but Duncan hits a double down the 1st base line to score Molina. Then Pujols comes up, and they pitch to him with first base open ( ). He promptly hits a 2-run dinger to deep right field. Midway through the 3rd, it's 4-1 Cardinals.

Pitching to Pujols with a base open... that's a move that will be debated until the end of time. Your thoughts?

[Lefty Noob]

Detroit goes down in order in the bottom of the 3rd. Score is still 4-1, St. Louis.

Due up for the Cardinals in the top of the 4th is Rolen (1-1, RBI), Encarnacion (0-1) and Belliard (0-1).

[Lefty Noob]

Verlander struck out the side. He's got 7 on the game, but the Tigers are still in a 3-run hole here.

[Lefty Noob]

Reyes has looked sharp in here. Verlander hasn't been terrible, but obivously he's given up some big hits. The Detroit offense really needs to help him out, but so far, the Cardinals rookie has quieted the bats. For a five game winner, he's been damn impressive.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Verlander struck out the side. He's got 7 on the game, but the Tigers are still in a 3-run hole here.

i like this kid...awesome college stats...awesome season...and if I am not mistaken, he was a Sleeper fantasy pick in our pre-season right up (and on my winning team)...he has some years ahead of him.

[Lefty Noob]

Verlander's line as of right now:
5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 2 HR, 7.20 ERA

And here's Reyes to this point:
5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR, 1.80 ERA

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Verlander's line as of right now:
5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 2 HR, 7.20 ERA

And here's Reyes to this point:
4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR, 1.93 ERA

Take my chances with Verlander in the long run...

[Lefty Noob]

Pujols walks, then goes to third on a Verlander throwing error. See, they thought Pujols with his injured hammy was a threat to steal 2nd base ( ) and tried a pickoff move. Edmonds singles him in and it's now 5-1, St. Louis, in the top of the 6th. Rolen hits a double that bounces over the wall, Edmonds has to hold at third, and Leyland pulls Verlander. Any shot the Tigers can come back?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Pujols walks, then goes to third on a Verlander throwing error. See, they thought Pujols with his injured hammy was a threat to steal 2nd base ( ) and tried a pickoff move. Edmonds singles him in and it's now 5-1, St. Louis, in the top of the 6th. Rolen hits a double that bounces over the wall, Edmonds has to hold at third, and Leyland pulls Verlander. Any shot the Tigers can come back?

Wow...I talk up the kid and he throws it away...I better shut up.

[Lefty Noob]

Your new Detroit Tigers pitcher is Jason Grilli, who enters the game with runners on 2nd and 3rd. He was 2-3 for the season with a 4.21 ERA, 31 K and 25 walks. He's only tossed 1.1 innings in the playoffs, giving up 1 hit, walking three and striking out 1 batter.

[Lefty Noob]

This one's getting ugly - its now 7-1 headed to the bottom of the 6th. Encarnacion reached on a fielder's choice, allowing J. Edmonds and S. Rolen to score. The throw home was offline and then Rolen was awarded home on an obstruction call. Encarnacion reached second during the whole mess, but the Grilli and the Tigers were able to get out of the inning without any more damage being done. Folks, it looks like this one is about over. Barring a miraculous comeback, St. Louis will take a 1-0 Series lead.