Thursday, October 26, 2006 - World Series - Game Four vs Detroit Tigers at Busch Stadium III - Starting Pitchers: Jeff Suppan vs Jeremy Bonderman - Attendance: 46,470
Game Four had been scheduled to be played on Wednesday, but was postponed, due to rain.
The Cardinals used timely hitting, good defense and capitalized on another inexplicably wild throw by Tigers' pitching to earn a pivotal come-from-behind World Series Game Four win - by a final score of 5-4. This win gives the Redbirds a formidable three games to one advantage over the bumbling Tigers, who - thanks to one enormous throwing error - managed to cough up two more unearned runs en route to blowing an early 3-0 lead.
After a rocky start - giving up three runs after three-innings - Jeff Suppan kept the Tigers off the board over his final three innings of work to give his teammates a chance to get back in the game.
Trailing 3-0 in the third-inning, the Cardinals broke through off Detroit starter Jeremy Bonderman - on a one-out single by Aaron Miles, a stolen base, and a two-out RBI double by David Eckstein - one of three doubles the World Series MVP would collect on the night.
The Cardinals used a pair of doubles in the fourth-inning by Scott Rolen and Yadier Molina to pull within one run - down 3-2.
However, in the sixth-inning Rolen's lead-off double - his second of the game - was wasted when reliever Fernando Rodney entered the game to strike out both Miles and pinch hitter John Rodriguez - stranding Rolen at third.
Rodney's only problem seemed to be what to do with any balls hit back to the mound - as we would see once again in the seventh-inning.
Still trailing 3-2, Eckstein led-off with another double, prompting manager Tony LaRussa to have pinch hitter So Taguchi - batting for Chris Duncan - lay down a sacrifice bunt - preferably one the pitcher would have to field. Sure enough, after fielding the bunt, Rodney somehow managed to throw the ball over the first baseman's head - allowing Eckstein to score the tying (unearned) run, as Taguchi advanced to second - representing the go-ahead (unearned) run.
After an intentional walk to Pujols, Rodney struck out both Edmonds and Rolen - but Preston Wilson came up with the big hit - a run-scoring single to left field. Left fielder Craig Monroe had no shot at nailing Taguchi at home, but Pujols was an easy out trying to take third. However, the Cardinals had finally taken a 4-3 lead - although it would be a short-lived lead.
With Braden Looper now pitching for the Cardinals to start the eighth-inning, Ivan Rodriguez greeted him with a lead-off double - then advanced to third on Placido Polanco's ground-out to the second baseman. That prompted LaRussa to bring in his rookie closer - Adam Wainwright - to get out of the jam. However, the first batter he faced - Brandon Inge - tied the game with a double to center field.
Suddenly, the game was very much in jeopardy. Detroit could take the lead again with another base hit, however, Wainwright struck out pinch hitter Alexis Gomez as well as Curtis Granderson, to end the threat.
With Joel Zumaya now pitching for the Tigers, Molina drew a lead-off walk to start the home half of the eighth. Miles then forced Yadi at second on a grounder to third base. Then, in a bizarre play, Zumaya struck out Encarnacion on a wild pitch, advancing Miles to second - although catcher Rodriguez was able to retrieve the ball in time to retire the batter at first base.
Next up - Eckstein - hit a line drive to left center field which probably should have been caught by Granderson - but the Tigers' center fielder slipped on the wet outfield grass, as the ball sailed over his head - good for another double, and good for his second RBI of the game. That was the only run in the inning, but it proved to be all that was necessary to take Game Four by a 5-4 final score.
Despite blowing the save, Wainwright pitched a perfect ninth to preserve his first career postseason win - and put the Redbirds on the cusp of what seemed like an impossible World Series championship just one short month ago.
In baseball, one month can bring about great change. A little rain can go a long way, too.
Showing posts with label david eckstein. Show all posts
Showing posts with label david eckstein. Show all posts
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Friday, October 24, 2014
October 24, 2006 - Carpenter Tames Tigers - Cards Take 2 Games to 1 World Series Lead
Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - World Series - Game 3 at Busch Stadium III vs Detroit Tigers - Starting Pitchers: Chris Carpenter vs Nate Robertson - Attendance: 46,513
Chris Carpenter blanked the Tigers on three hits through eight-innings, as the Cardinals brought home a crucial 5-0 Game Three win - to take a two games to one World Series lead.
Jim Edmonds' fourth-inning bases loaded double scored Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen to give Carpenter all the run support he would need. However, thanks to the continued defensive ineptitude from the Tigers' pitching staff, the Cards got a few late-inning gift runs to win this one going away.
Already leading 2-0, the Cardinals scored a pair of seventh-inning runs without even putting a ball in play past the pitcher's mound. Both David Eskstein and Preston Wilson walked to start the inning off the wild Joel Zumaya - who then coaxed Albert Pujols into hitting a nice little ground ball right back to the mound.
However, Zumaya's mind went blank. Suddenly, he was standing on the pitcher's mound with a live ball in his hand and he didn't know what to do with it. What he should have done - but apparently forgot - is turn around and fire a strike to second, where shortstop Carlos Guillen would be turning an easy double play. Eckstein would be on third, but with two outs, that wouldn't be a problem, as long as he could retire the next guy.
In reality, what Zumaya did after fielding the ball, was panic - causing an ill-advised and very wild throw in the general direction of third base. As the ball careened down the left field line into foul territory, both Eckstein and Wilson scored, as Pujols rambled into second with his little league "double".
Manager Jim Leyland thought this might be a good time to make a pitching change - and he made a wise choice - bringing in Jason Grilli - who actually got the necessary three outs without another run crossing the plate.
Unfortunately for Leyland and company, he brought in the wild Fernando Rodney to pitch the eighth-inning. His first order of business was to walk So Taguchi. After a successful sacrifice bunt by Carpenter, Fernando found the strike zone against Eckstein - but maybe too much of the strike zone - as the suddenly hot Cardinal shortstop singled to left - advancing Taguchi to third.
This time up, Pujols didn't even have to swing the bat in order to score a run. All he had to do was stand there, then get out of the way of a wild pitch, before taking a couple of steps back to allow Taguchi to score. With Eckstein now on second base, Rodney then plunked Pujols with a pitch - as a time-saving measure, since intentional walks require four time-consuming lobs out of the strike zone.
Fernando then induced Scott Rolen into hitting a grounder to third baseman Inge - who had been having quite an adventurous Fall Classic in the fielding department, himself - but this time, he knew what to do - stepping on the third base bag, then throwing a strike to first base to complete the double play. Afterwards, an amazed Detroit pitching staff was asking Inge how he was able to make such a nice throw under such extreme pressure.
Apparently, scoring that fifth run changed LaRussa's mind-set regarding the need for Carpenter to pitch a complete game shutout. After all, Carpenter was allowed to hit for himself - or rather, bunt for himself - but, he was removed from the game at the conclusion of that eighth-inning - before getting the opportunity join legends such as Gibson and Dean - among others - to throw complete game shutouts in a World Series.
It would've been nice, but LaRussa brought in Braden Looper to finish up, and he did his job - retiring all three batters to preserve the 5-0 win.
Most importantly, the Cardinals were winning - simply by playing good, sound fundamental baseball. Of course, the Tigers were losing - by playing bad, unsound fundamental baseball. This trend would continue for another two games.
Chris Carpenter blanked the Tigers on three hits through eight-innings, as the Cardinals brought home a crucial 5-0 Game Three win - to take a two games to one World Series lead.
Jim Edmonds' fourth-inning bases loaded double scored Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen to give Carpenter all the run support he would need. However, thanks to the continued defensive ineptitude from the Tigers' pitching staff, the Cards got a few late-inning gift runs to win this one going away.
Already leading 2-0, the Cardinals scored a pair of seventh-inning runs without even putting a ball in play past the pitcher's mound. Both David Eskstein and Preston Wilson walked to start the inning off the wild Joel Zumaya - who then coaxed Albert Pujols into hitting a nice little ground ball right back to the mound.
However, Zumaya's mind went blank. Suddenly, he was standing on the pitcher's mound with a live ball in his hand and he didn't know what to do with it. What he should have done - but apparently forgot - is turn around and fire a strike to second, where shortstop Carlos Guillen would be turning an easy double play. Eckstein would be on third, but with two outs, that wouldn't be a problem, as long as he could retire the next guy.
In reality, what Zumaya did after fielding the ball, was panic - causing an ill-advised and very wild throw in the general direction of third base. As the ball careened down the left field line into foul territory, both Eckstein and Wilson scored, as Pujols rambled into second with his little league "double".
Manager Jim Leyland thought this might be a good time to make a pitching change - and he made a wise choice - bringing in Jason Grilli - who actually got the necessary three outs without another run crossing the plate.
Unfortunately for Leyland and company, he brought in the wild Fernando Rodney to pitch the eighth-inning. His first order of business was to walk So Taguchi. After a successful sacrifice bunt by Carpenter, Fernando found the strike zone against Eckstein - but maybe too much of the strike zone - as the suddenly hot Cardinal shortstop singled to left - advancing Taguchi to third.
This time up, Pujols didn't even have to swing the bat in order to score a run. All he had to do was stand there, then get out of the way of a wild pitch, before taking a couple of steps back to allow Taguchi to score. With Eckstein now on second base, Rodney then plunked Pujols with a pitch - as a time-saving measure, since intentional walks require four time-consuming lobs out of the strike zone.
Fernando then induced Scott Rolen into hitting a grounder to third baseman Inge - who had been having quite an adventurous Fall Classic in the fielding department, himself - but this time, he knew what to do - stepping on the third base bag, then throwing a strike to first base to complete the double play. Afterwards, an amazed Detroit pitching staff was asking Inge how he was able to make such a nice throw under such extreme pressure.
Apparently, scoring that fifth run changed LaRussa's mind-set regarding the need for Carpenter to pitch a complete game shutout. After all, Carpenter was allowed to hit for himself - or rather, bunt for himself - but, he was removed from the game at the conclusion of that eighth-inning - before getting the opportunity join legends such as Gibson and Dean - among others - to throw complete game shutouts in a World Series.
It would've been nice, but LaRussa brought in Braden Looper to finish up, and he did his job - retiring all three batters to preserve the 5-0 win.
Most importantly, the Cardinals were winning - simply by playing good, sound fundamental baseball. Of course, the Tigers were losing - by playing bad, unsound fundamental baseball. This trend would continue for another two games.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
August 7, 2005 - Eckstein Walks-Off Braves in Grand Style
Sunday, August 7, 2005 - At Busch Stadium II (Chris Carpenter - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Atlanta Braves (Jorge Sosa - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 47,714
David Eckstein's ninth-inning grand slam home run turned a 3-1 deficit into a thrilling 5-3 walk-off win over the Atlanta Braves. It was an unexpected ending to a game that began as a pitcher's duel - at least through the first seven innings.
Both starting pitchers - Chris Carpenter and Jorge Sosa - had only given up four hits apiece - but for Carpenter, two of the hits left the yard. Kelly Johnson's solo home run in the first inning staked Sosa to a 1-0 lead - then Jeff Francoeur added another solo blast in the second-inning.
Meanwhile, Sosa breezed through the St Louis lineup with such ease, it seemed likely Carpenter's effort would go down in the books as a tough loss. The Cardinal ace - on his way to capturing the NL Cy Young Award - settled down after yielding that second home run - striking out ten batters along the way.
But then, questionable managerial decisions on the part of Bobby Cox ultimately facilitated the Cardinals' comeback. It all started when Cox decided to pinch hit for Sosa - who was scheduled to lead-off the eighth-inning for Atlanta. Pinch hitter Pete Orr was retired, along with the next two batters, as the score remained 2-0, in favor of the Braves.
With Sosa out of the game, the Cardinals' offense began to stir. After reliever Kyle Farnsworth recorded the first two outs in the bottom of the eighth, he quickly got ahead in the count - 0-2 - to Albert Pujols. His next pitch - which should have been a foot outside - instead caught too much of the strike zone to the world's best hitter. Pujols blasted the pitch deep to left center field to put the Cardinals on the board for the first time in the game. As manager Bobby Cox fumed in the Braves' dugout, he quickly made another hasty pitching change - bringing in John Foster to pitch to Jim Edmonds. Foster couldn't find the strike zone, as Edmonds took the free pass. At this point, Cox went to his trump card - at least he thought it was his trump card - bringing Chris Reitsma in from the bullpen to restore order. He induced Mark Grudzielanek to ground out to the third baseman to preserve the 2-1 lead.
Then manager Tony LaRussa brought Jason Isringhausen in from the bullpen to begin the top of the ninth-inning - in a non-save situation. Marcus Giles greeted Izzy with a single to right field - then promptly stole second with Andruw Jones batting. Jones then walked. When the next batter - Adam LaRoche - grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, it appeared Isringhausen might be able to wriggle out of this predicament, unscathed. However, Francoeur - who homered earlier in the game - drove in another run with a double to right field. At this point, Ray King was summoned from the Cardinals' bullpen to clean up the mess.
Things got messier when King plunked the first batter - Brian McCann - with a pitch. Then he walked the next batter - Wilson Betemt - to load the bases. The next scheduled batter - relief pitcher Chris Reitsma - was allowed to hit for himself. Cox had lifted Sosa an inning earlier - when he was pitching brilliantly - with a two-run lead. But he let Reitsma bat in this situation - with the bases loaded - when another hit could have put the game on ice for Atlanta. Instead, Reitsma grounded out to end the threat - then went back to the mound to face the Redbirds in the bottom of the ninth.
Abraham Nunez singled - as did So Taguchi - to put runners on first and second. The next batter - Hector Luna - reached base on an infield hit off the second baseman's glove. The bases were now loaded. Nobody out. Nobody stirring in the Braves' bullpen. Cox was going to keep Reitsma in there, no matter what. Then Scott Seabol - pinch hitting for Ray King - lined one hard - but right at the third baseman for the first out of the inning.
Next up - the Cardinals' gritty lead-off hitter - David Eckstein - hardly a serious power threat. The first pitch to Eckstein missed - for ball one. Eckstein decided to sit on a fastball, realizing that Reitsma didn't want to walk in a run - not with this little guy at the plate. The next pitch was right where David wanted it - inner half - belt high. He got all of it - lining it hard - and just high enough to get over the left field wall - for a walk-off grand slam home run.
Just like that, the game was over. The Cardinals had won by a score of 5-3 - after being shut out for the first seven innings on just four hits. Five hits and two innings later, they had notched another dramatic win - as the shell-shocked Braves retreated to the somber atmosphere of the visitors' clubhouse.
For Chris Reitsma - his career was suddenly in a downward spiral. Prior to this game, he had pitched well - posting an ERA of 3.04 - with 15 saves. Just the night before, he had wrapped up an 8-1 Atlanta victory with a scoreless ninth-inning - allowing just one hit. On August 4, he had preserved a 7-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds to record that 15th save. However, he wouldn't save another game all season. In this one nightmare outing, his ERA had moved up to 3.67. It would move up to 3.93 by season's end.
The following season, his ERA would balloon to 8.68, although he somehow managed to save eight games.
By 2007, he would be exiled to Seattle - and in 23.2 IP, Reitsma would fail to record a single save. He would lose two - win none - with an ERA of 7.61. And that would be the end of his major league career.
It's hard to explain why major league careers suddenly take a sudden dive into the abyss. However, it seems that Reitsma never recovered from this crushing performance in St Louis - when David Eckstein took him deep - in the ninth-inning - with the bases loaded.
David Eckstein's ninth-inning grand slam home run turned a 3-1 deficit into a thrilling 5-3 walk-off win over the Atlanta Braves. It was an unexpected ending to a game that began as a pitcher's duel - at least through the first seven innings.
Both starting pitchers - Chris Carpenter and Jorge Sosa - had only given up four hits apiece - but for Carpenter, two of the hits left the yard. Kelly Johnson's solo home run in the first inning staked Sosa to a 1-0 lead - then Jeff Francoeur added another solo blast in the second-inning.
Meanwhile, Sosa breezed through the St Louis lineup with such ease, it seemed likely Carpenter's effort would go down in the books as a tough loss. The Cardinal ace - on his way to capturing the NL Cy Young Award - settled down after yielding that second home run - striking out ten batters along the way.
But then, questionable managerial decisions on the part of Bobby Cox ultimately facilitated the Cardinals' comeback. It all started when Cox decided to pinch hit for Sosa - who was scheduled to lead-off the eighth-inning for Atlanta. Pinch hitter Pete Orr was retired, along with the next two batters, as the score remained 2-0, in favor of the Braves.
With Sosa out of the game, the Cardinals' offense began to stir. After reliever Kyle Farnsworth recorded the first two outs in the bottom of the eighth, he quickly got ahead in the count - 0-2 - to Albert Pujols. His next pitch - which should have been a foot outside - instead caught too much of the strike zone to the world's best hitter. Pujols blasted the pitch deep to left center field to put the Cardinals on the board for the first time in the game. As manager Bobby Cox fumed in the Braves' dugout, he quickly made another hasty pitching change - bringing in John Foster to pitch to Jim Edmonds. Foster couldn't find the strike zone, as Edmonds took the free pass. At this point, Cox went to his trump card - at least he thought it was his trump card - bringing Chris Reitsma in from the bullpen to restore order. He induced Mark Grudzielanek to ground out to the third baseman to preserve the 2-1 lead.
Then manager Tony LaRussa brought Jason Isringhausen in from the bullpen to begin the top of the ninth-inning - in a non-save situation. Marcus Giles greeted Izzy with a single to right field - then promptly stole second with Andruw Jones batting. Jones then walked. When the next batter - Adam LaRoche - grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, it appeared Isringhausen might be able to wriggle out of this predicament, unscathed. However, Francoeur - who homered earlier in the game - drove in another run with a double to right field. At this point, Ray King was summoned from the Cardinals' bullpen to clean up the mess.
Things got messier when King plunked the first batter - Brian McCann - with a pitch. Then he walked the next batter - Wilson Betemt - to load the bases. The next scheduled batter - relief pitcher Chris Reitsma - was allowed to hit for himself. Cox had lifted Sosa an inning earlier - when he was pitching brilliantly - with a two-run lead. But he let Reitsma bat in this situation - with the bases loaded - when another hit could have put the game on ice for Atlanta. Instead, Reitsma grounded out to end the threat - then went back to the mound to face the Redbirds in the bottom of the ninth.
Abraham Nunez singled - as did So Taguchi - to put runners on first and second. The next batter - Hector Luna - reached base on an infield hit off the second baseman's glove. The bases were now loaded. Nobody out. Nobody stirring in the Braves' bullpen. Cox was going to keep Reitsma in there, no matter what. Then Scott Seabol - pinch hitting for Ray King - lined one hard - but right at the third baseman for the first out of the inning.
Next up - the Cardinals' gritty lead-off hitter - David Eckstein - hardly a serious power threat. The first pitch to Eckstein missed - for ball one. Eckstein decided to sit on a fastball, realizing that Reitsma didn't want to walk in a run - not with this little guy at the plate. The next pitch was right where David wanted it - inner half - belt high. He got all of it - lining it hard - and just high enough to get over the left field wall - for a walk-off grand slam home run.
Just like that, the game was over. The Cardinals had won by a score of 5-3 - after being shut out for the first seven innings on just four hits. Five hits and two innings later, they had notched another dramatic win - as the shell-shocked Braves retreated to the somber atmosphere of the visitors' clubhouse.
For Chris Reitsma - his career was suddenly in a downward spiral. Prior to this game, he had pitched well - posting an ERA of 3.04 - with 15 saves. Just the night before, he had wrapped up an 8-1 Atlanta victory with a scoreless ninth-inning - allowing just one hit. On August 4, he had preserved a 7-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds to record that 15th save. However, he wouldn't save another game all season. In this one nightmare outing, his ERA had moved up to 3.67. It would move up to 3.93 by season's end.
The following season, his ERA would balloon to 8.68, although he somehow managed to save eight games.
By 2007, he would be exiled to Seattle - and in 23.2 IP, Reitsma would fail to record a single save. He would lose two - win none - with an ERA of 7.61. And that would be the end of his major league career.
It's hard to explain why major league careers suddenly take a sudden dive into the abyss. However, it seems that Reitsma never recovered from this crushing performance in St Louis - when David Eckstein took him deep - in the ninth-inning - with the bases loaded.
Friday, April 26, 2013
This Date in St Louis Cardinals Championship History
April 26, 2006: The St Louis Cardinals played host to the Pittsburgh Pirates in their beautiful new facility - Busch Stadium III. Cardinals' starting pitcher Mark Mulder (remember him?) labored through 7.2 innings of work, allowing just two runs on five hits (one of those hits was a two-run home run). He struck out just one batter, while walking five, yet managed to escape with a slim 3-2 lead.
That's how the score remained until two outs in the ninth-inning, with closer Jason Isringhausen just one out away from the save. Unfortunately for Izzy (and Mulder), veteran first baseman Jose Hernandez, who would only hit three home runs in 85 games all year (his final big league season), managed to tie the game with one of those long-balls, sending the game to the bottom of the ninth, tied 3-3; and sending 38,728 fans into a state of nervous agitation.
Of course, the Cardinals were a resilient bunch in 2006 and the Pirates were...the Pirates. They had to lose. Almost as if on cue, with one out in the Redbirds' half of the ninth, consecutive singles by David Eckstein and Hector Luna (remember him?) brought Albert Pujols to the plate with a chance to win the game. Naturally, he did just that, grounding a single to left field as Eckstein raced home from second base with the decisive run - RBI number 29 for Pujols at that point of the season.
2006 may have been Albert's finest season with St Louis, as he went on to hit .331 with 49 home runs and 137 RBI. Fans still bitter with his decision to leave the Cardinals shouldn't forget how great he was - especially in this particular championship season.
Pittsburgh's (5-18) losing pitcher - Roberto Hernandez - would finish 2006 with a perfect 0-3 record - and would later be dealt to the New York Mets - the team St Louis eliminated from the NLCS in a classic seven game showdown.
This late April win didn't seem like that big of a deal at the time, as the Cards' record improved to 14-7. However, at the time, they still trailed Houston (15-6) and Cincinnati (15-7) in the NL Central standings. Somehow, the Cards managed to win the division title that year, despite a lackluster 69-71 record the rest of the way. Their 83-79 record was just a game and a half better than the Astros - the team that knocked St Louis out of the playoffs the year prior - the team that was swept by the Chicago White Sox in the 2005 World Series. So this seems fitting.
Despite the mediocre regular season record, the Cardinals became an unstoppable force in the postseason; without the services of hard-luck Mark Mulder who was shut down after making just seventeen largely ineffective starts. He managed to win six games that year (losing seven) with a high ERA of 7.14; but his career was essentially over, falling victim to a bad arm.
Isringhausen, who managed to pitch an entire season without giving up a home run - in 2002 - was well on his way to serving up a career-worst ten dingers in 2006, although he still managed to save 32 games before being shut down by seaon's end with arm trouble of his own.
Pujols, who is now on the wrong side of age 30 with bad wheels and declining power stats, is trying his best to make the outrageous ten-year-quarter of a billion dollar contract he coaxed the Angels into giving him prior to the 2012...not look like a bad deal for the Halos. Unfortunately, for Pujols and his new team, time is running out to make a serious run at a World Series championship.
The only Cardinals player left on the roster who played in that April game seven years ago is Yadier Molina - who at the time was a great defensive catcher but a poor hitter - is now a very good hitter - in fact, one of the elite players in all of major league baseball; playing for a team with realistic hopes for yet another World Series championship in 2013.
That's how the score remained until two outs in the ninth-inning, with closer Jason Isringhausen just one out away from the save. Unfortunately for Izzy (and Mulder), veteran first baseman Jose Hernandez, who would only hit three home runs in 85 games all year (his final big league season), managed to tie the game with one of those long-balls, sending the game to the bottom of the ninth, tied 3-3; and sending 38,728 fans into a state of nervous agitation.
Of course, the Cardinals were a resilient bunch in 2006 and the Pirates were...the Pirates. They had to lose. Almost as if on cue, with one out in the Redbirds' half of the ninth, consecutive singles by David Eckstein and Hector Luna (remember him?) brought Albert Pujols to the plate with a chance to win the game. Naturally, he did just that, grounding a single to left field as Eckstein raced home from second base with the decisive run - RBI number 29 for Pujols at that point of the season.
2006 may have been Albert's finest season with St Louis, as he went on to hit .331 with 49 home runs and 137 RBI. Fans still bitter with his decision to leave the Cardinals shouldn't forget how great he was - especially in this particular championship season.
Pittsburgh's (5-18) losing pitcher - Roberto Hernandez - would finish 2006 with a perfect 0-3 record - and would later be dealt to the New York Mets - the team St Louis eliminated from the NLCS in a classic seven game showdown.
This late April win didn't seem like that big of a deal at the time, as the Cards' record improved to 14-7. However, at the time, they still trailed Houston (15-6) and Cincinnati (15-7) in the NL Central standings. Somehow, the Cards managed to win the division title that year, despite a lackluster 69-71 record the rest of the way. Their 83-79 record was just a game and a half better than the Astros - the team that knocked St Louis out of the playoffs the year prior - the team that was swept by the Chicago White Sox in the 2005 World Series. So this seems fitting.
Despite the mediocre regular season record, the Cardinals became an unstoppable force in the postseason; without the services of hard-luck Mark Mulder who was shut down after making just seventeen largely ineffective starts. He managed to win six games that year (losing seven) with a high ERA of 7.14; but his career was essentially over, falling victim to a bad arm.
Isringhausen, who managed to pitch an entire season without giving up a home run - in 2002 - was well on his way to serving up a career-worst ten dingers in 2006, although he still managed to save 32 games before being shut down by seaon's end with arm trouble of his own.
Pujols, who is now on the wrong side of age 30 with bad wheels and declining power stats, is trying his best to make the outrageous ten-year-quarter of a billion dollar contract he coaxed the Angels into giving him prior to the 2012...not look like a bad deal for the Halos. Unfortunately, for Pujols and his new team, time is running out to make a serious run at a World Series championship.
The only Cardinals player left on the roster who played in that April game seven years ago is Yadier Molina - who at the time was a great defensive catcher but a poor hitter - is now a very good hitter - in fact, one of the elite players in all of major league baseball; playing for a team with realistic hopes for yet another World Series championship in 2013.
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