ST. LOUIS -- Rangers reliever Mike Gonzalez threw a slider in the eighth inning of Game 7 and felt his left knee finally completely give out.

Gonzalez had torn the meniscus in his left knee against Seattle late in the season but knew he could probably pitch with the injury in the postseason. It mainly impacted his ability to quickly get off the mound.

"We didn't want to tell anybody so they wouldn't try to bunt or anything," Gonzalez said. "I just had to gut it out until the end."

Gonzalez said he'll have the knee scoped next week and will be fully prepared for spring training. The left-handed specialist is a free agent but is hopeful he can re-sign with the Rangers.

"I'm definitely interested in coming back," Gonzalez said. "Whatever we can do, I'm willing to do what I need to do. The chemistry these guys have is something you want to have and something I love being around. I've only been here seven weeks, but I enjoyed myself more in Major League Baseball these seven weeks more than I have my entire career."

Gonzalez went from last place to the AL Champions and pitching in Game 7 of the World Series. He was acquired in late August and got some big outs for the Rangers in the postseason, getting lefties out with regularity.

He had a 4.15 ERA in eight postseason games for the Rangers, but much of that was in one outing. He was an important part of late-inning relief in critical junctures in the AL Division Series and the AL Championship Series.