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The Cardinals were on the verge of taking a 2-0 lead in the World Series. They were moments away, really. Inches from having the World Series in their grip, never to let go.

It was the top of the ninth inning of Game 2, and the sea of red was roiling at Busch Stadium, with 47,288 fans prepared to let loose in the manner once urged by the immortal Jack Buck: Go crazy, folks, go crazy.

The Texas Rangers, unable to track down their missing offense, were down to their final three outs. The anticipation was building. The emotions were cresting. The Cardinals had closer Jason Motte, virtually bulletproof during the 2011 postseason, on the mound to put the Rangers down.

Then it happened. After streaking through September and October on an improbable and incredible odyssey, the Cardinals finally stalled. An enchanted team ran out of magic, and got clumsy.

The...

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