Late in World Series Game 2, as the Cardinals were trying to win a 1-0 game for the first time in their 107-game World Series history, and every pitch and managerial move carried the consequence of legendary disaster or fame, St. Louis first base coach Dave McKay turned to Texas first baseman Michael Young and said, “Competition at its finest.”

Replied Young, “It’s fun, isn’t it?”

The Cardinals and Rangers have succeeded in giving us the best kind of World Series possible: the one you didn’t see coming that keeps you on the edge of your seat. After whiz-bang League Championship Series in which runs came by the boatload, there hasn’t been a lower-scoring two-game start to a World Series in 61 years. Only eight runs have crossed the plate — fewer than what Texas put up in a 38-minute barrage in just one inning in its ALCS clincher. It ties the 1967, 1969 and 1972 World Series as the lowest-scoring two-game start since 1950.

The two teams have taken 36 turns at bat, and 35 of them have ended with them either tied or separated by a single run. What this tautness means is that we have a series in which the managers have been put on stage as much as the players. And the day after St. Louis outlets were referring to manager Tony La Russa as La Genius, La Russa’s postseason run of rolling hot dice came to a cold end.

Game 2 put La Russa in the cross hairs that had been trained on Texas manager Ron Washington after Game 1. La Russa’s magic touch with his manic bullpen usage finally came under question. The Cardinals were in position to win when the trap door finally opened on their charmed bullpen.

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Tom Verducci: La Russa loses magic touch as Rangers even captivating World Series