Is Mitchell Boggs one of Tony La Russa's best relief pitchers?

No, probably not. He pitched decently during the regular season; his best marker was allowing only four home runs in 61 innings. But Lance Lynn threw 47 pitches in Game 3 and Octavio Dotel threw 23, and so La Russa's options in Game 4 aren't what he might like.

So after La Russa allowed Edwin Jackson to start the bottom of the sixth inning and Jackson issued his sixth and seventh walks of the game to the first two batters he faced, out popped La Russa and in trotted Boggs from the bullpen.

Boggs had not pitched well in the postseason thus far. Nevertheless, Joe Buck intoned, "We specifically talked to La Russa before tonight's game and he thought Boggs showed him something last night. Threw hard, he's got electric stuff when he has command and he's into a jam here in the sixth."

McCarver: "La Russa telling us that if Boggs hits his spot, he's as good as anyone he has. His spot now is going to be down, for the double-play ball."

Boggs' first pitch was a 95-m.p.h. fastball, not down but up. And this happened:

Just like that, a three-run homer. Boggs did well enough afterward, but it was a little late considering the score is now Rangers 4, Cardinals 0 after six full frames.