( CNN ) -- St. Louis Cardinals struck first in baseball 's World Series on Wednesday , beating Texas Rangers 3-2 in game one courtesy of a pinch-hit from substitute batter Allen Craig . The Cardinals , searching for their 11th success in Major League Baseball 's seven-game championship series , owed much to five relief pitchers who yielded just one hit to the Rangers in three innings after taking the lead . `` I do n't know what everyone else has been thinking about our team , '' Craig , who came in for starting pitcher Chris Carpenter , told the MLB website . `` But we know what we can do . We 've just got to come out and keep doing it . '' Carpenter lasted six innings before being pulled for Craig , despite concerns over an elbow injury . Third baseman David Freese scored the decisive run on a cold night at Busch Stadium after outfielder Craig hit a single in the bottom of the sixth innings off Rangers relief pitcher Alexi Ogando . `` When you get in the postseason , you have to win games in so many ways , '' Freese said after Tony La Russa 's St. Louis secured a 31st win in 44 games . `` Not every game is going to be the same . Teams that win 90 , 95 , 100 games , they win ballgames different ways the entire year . '' Rangers ' starting pitcher C.J . Wilson was critical of his own form , after extending a run which has seen him lose the MLB All Star Game , game one of the American League division series and now the opener of the Fall Classic . `` It stinks . It stinks , '' the 30-year-old said . `` I 'm here to win . I 'm not here to lose . I 'm not here to give up runs . I do n't work all year to have these negative press conferences afterwards . '' St. Louis broke the deadlock of the World Series ' 107th edition at the bottom of the fourth inning when Lance Berkman batted in Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday . Texas leveled at the top of the fifth with a two-run homer from catcher Mike Napoli , but Freese came home for the victory when outfielder Nelson Cruz could not gather Craig 's slice . History is against the Rangers , who are searching for their first World Series success , with the last 10 winning teams in game one going on to clinch baseball 's biggest prize . Game two will take place in St. Louis on Thursday , before the series moves to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Saturday .
St. Louis Cardinals beat St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 in game one of World Series . A pinch-hit from Allen Craig secures win for Tony La Russa 's team . Cardinals ' relief pitchers yield just one hit in final two innings after taking the lead . Game three is on Thursday at the St. Louis Cardinals ' Busch Stadium .