ST. LOUIS — Simply incredible.
On the 25th anniversary — to the day — of the Mets winning the World Series after stealing the wildest Game 6 in the event’s history, the Cardinals last night came up with an all-time beauty of a sixth game of their own.
David Freese homered over the center-field fence in the bottom of the 11th inning, sending the Cardinals to a 10-9 victory over the Rangers before 47,325 delirious fans at Busch Stadium.
For the first time since 2002, when the Angels defeated the Giants, there will be a Game 7 of the World Series.
“What happened today, you had to be here to believe it,” Cardinals manager Tony
La Russa said. “We never quit trying. I know that’s kind of corny, but the fact is we never quit trying.”
Freese ended the 4-hour, 33-minute marathon by hammering a Mark Lowe pitch deep into the St. Louis skyline, setting off fireworks and an improbable celebration.
“It’s all about knowing this is the same game as when you’re 6 years old,” Freese said. “You have a job to do, and you try to execute.”
Down to their final strike for the second time in as many innings, the Cardinals had tied the game in the 10th on Lance Berkman’s RBI single against Scott Feldman. Consecutive singles by Daniel Descalso and Jon Jay against Darren Oliver had led to the Cardinals pulling within 9-8 on Ryan Theriot’s RBI ground out.
Josh Hamilton’s two-run homer in the top of the 10th had staked the Rangers to a 9-7 lead.
An inning earlier, Freese — down to his final strike against Neftali Feliz — stroked a two-run triple over Nelson Cruz’s outstretched glove in right field to make it 7-7. It was a game that included five errors and 23 runners left on base.
“It’s great that we have another life, but it’s Game 7 of the World Series and we’re not done,” Albert Pujols said.
Tonight, the Rangers will turn to Matt Harrison, who took the loss in Game 3 after giving up five runs (three earned) in 3 2/3 innings. La Russa would not say who will pitch for the Cardinals, but all indications it will be ace Chris Carpenter on three days’ rest.
The comeback actually began in the eighth, when Allen Craig hit a solo home run against Derek Holland to bring the Cardinals within 7-5.
Adrian Beltre and Cruz homered back to back against Lance Lynn to start the seventh, giving the Rangers a 6-4 lead and making a championship seem imminent for the visitors. Ian Kinsler’s RBI single against Octavio Dotel later in the inning gave the Rangers breathing room.
“It’s not that easy to win a world championship, as we found out tonight,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “We had the right people in the right spot, and they beat us.”
The game’s fifth error — Michael Young bobbling Matt Holliday’s grounder and then retreating late to first base after considering a play at second — led to the Cardinals making it 4-4 in the sixth. Alexi Ogando walked Yadier Molina with the bases loaded for the run. Holliday was subsequently picked off third base, and the Cardinals left the bases loaded in the inning.
Freese dropped a Hamilton pop-up in the fifth that helped the Rangers take a 4-3 lead against reliever Fernando Salas. Young’s ensuing RBI double scored the go-ahead run.
mpuma@nypost.com