ST. LOUIS — The Texas Rangers took 40 seasons to reach this position. After such a long climb, they were ready to wait one more day for a chance to win their first World Series title.

Game 6 was postponed Wednesday because of a wet forecast, delaying their bid to win the championship. Ahead 3-2, they can close out the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night.

“It’s just a rainout, that’s it,” said Texas star Michael Young, in his 12th year with the team. “I don’t know if people think we’re going to sit in our hotel rooms all night biting our nails. We’re going to get something to eat, get some rest and be ready to go.”

Both clubs pushed back their starters by a day. Colby Lewis is set to pitch against the Cardinals’ Jaime Garcia. It’s likely to be clear with temperatures in the low 50s at Busch Stadium.

If there’s a Game 7 Friday night, it’ll be Matt Harrison for Texas against, well, no telling. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa playfully mentioned the great Bob Gibson, now a robust 75, but ace Chris Carpenter on three days’ rest looms as a possibility.

“It’s already been asked about Carp,” La Russa said. “I was told by Carp that he would be ready to go.”

The postponement came after a travel day for the teams. This two-day gap is the longest at the World Series since 1989, when the Bay Area earthquake left the Athletics and Giants idle for 11 days.

“We’re not getting antsy, we’re not getting ahead of ourselves. We just have to wait,” Texas manager Ron Washington said.

After a damp season and postseason, Major League Baseball announced the decision about 4Z\x hours before the scheduled first pitch. At the time, no drops had fallen at the ballpark.

“I’m not even sure why they canceled it,” Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman said. “This is better than the weather for Game 1. I guess I’m going to lie back on the couch like a big, fat pig and watch a movie.”

Maybe Berkman could’ve joined La Russa. The Cardinals manager planned to go see “Moneyball.”

By late afternoon, a light mist turned to drizzle and then to steady rain.

This was the first Series washout since 2008 at Philadelphia. That year, Tampa Bay and the Phillies were tied in the sixth inning when rain and snow turned the field into a quagmire, forcing a suspension. It rained the next day, too, and the game finally resumed two days later, with the Phillies winning to take the crown.

This marked the latest rainout at a Series since 1986, when Game 7 between the Red Sox and Mets was pushed back by a day.