The first pitch of game 5 will be around 8:28 PM. I realize Sukkot began tonight at sundown and theoretically, I should not be on. I guess I'll be attoning for this come next Yom Kippur.
Chris Carpenter will be taking the start against Andy Pettite tonight. In 5 starts against the Houston Astros, Carp won 4 of those games.
Game 6 will be on Wednesday at 8:28 PM. Mark Mulder will start that game against Roy Oswalt. I'm an optimist, I know that we can win. Game 7 will be Clemens and Morris.
The official lineups:
Cardinals
SS David Eckstein (.294, 8 HRs, 61 RBIs, 11 SBs)
CF Edmonds (.263, 29, 89)
1B Pujols (.330, 41, 117, 16 SBs)
LF Sanders (.271, 21, 54 in 93 games)
RF Walker (.289, 15, 52 in 100 games)
2B Mark Grudzielanek (.294, 8, 59)
C Yadier Molina (.252, 8, 49)
3B Luna (.252, 8, 49)
P Carpenter (1-0, 2.25 ERA)
Astros
2B Craig Biggio (.264, 26, 69, 17 HBP)
CF Chris Burke (.248, 5, 26)
LF Lance Berkman (.293, 24, 82, 91 walks)
3B Ensberg (.283, 36, 101)
1B Mike Lamb (.236, 12, 53)
RF Lane (.267, 26, 78)
C Brad Ausmus (.258, 3, 47)
SS Adam Everett (.248, 11, 54)
P Pettite (0-1, 7.50 ERA)
I'm liveblogging the game. It is currently 9:00 PM and Ausmus just doubled. I missed the replay, scratch that, the ball looked fair. The Umpires are as follows:
HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Greg Gibson. LF--Wally Bell. RF--Phil Cuzzi. The good news is that Phil Cuzzi is not behind home plate. He was pathetic last night. I've fixed the projected lineups to show the official ones. Fox commentators are Steve Lyons, Thom Brennaman, Bob Brenly, and Patrick O'Neal.
So far, no runs have scored. Runners are in scoring position for Andy Pettite. That was a great move by Albert Pujols to throw to the plate so that Yadier Molina can tag out Jason Lane. I've got nothing but praise for the Molina brothers. Runners are on the corners with two out for Craig Biggio. Darn, Biggio just drove in the first run. That brings up Louisville's Chris Burke. I can only hope that the ball stays in the infield or goes to Yadier's glove for the 3rd out in the top of the 2nd inning. There's some action on the field as Yadier is having is arm looked at. Burke strikes out and that's the end of the 2nd. I will update at each commercial break.
Eckstein leads off the 3rd. Eckstein was hit by the pitch in his first time up and he gets hit again after he swung. Base hit! Eckstein is hitting .279 with 2 strikes in the count right under Todd Helton. Edmonds is at the plate. Here's to a better game for Jim. Eckstein just stole 2nd. Edmonds speaks with the ump after pulling is bat back while attempting a bunt. Base hit! Runners on the corners for Albert Pujols. Pujols has hit .476 against the Astros during both postseasons. Albert struck out. Reggie comes to the plate. The count is even at 2-2 for Sanders. That could be, might be, darn, foul ball. Another throw to first...and David thought about it. Darn, Reggie's out. Due up to the plate is Larry Walker. Larry has not batted well during the postseason. If he hits, he needs to aim towards left center. Not good. That looked like a close call right there. Take your base! Bring up Mark Grudzielanek. Mark has not fared well during the postseason either. Bases are loaded for the Cardinals. Foul. That came close. Too close. Base hit. Two runs score (Eckstein and Edmonds)! Again, runners are on the corners. Is that an infield meeting? This was Mark's first hit this postseason with runners in scoring position. Molina is up. Strike 3 swinging but the damage is done.
We're in the bottom of the 3rd now. I hate the buzzing for the Killer B's. Berkman is up. Full count. Hammered straight to Edmonds! Two strikes for Ensberg. Strike 3 on a breaking ball. Mike Lamb grounds out.
Due up at the top of the 4th is none other than Hector Luna. Luna had a long grouner to Ensberg but barely gets it to Lamb. Carp up, this inning might be very quick. Then again, maybe not. Full count for Chris. Okay, Jason Lane made a sliding catch. Two out. Eckstein up again after leading off the 3rd. That got past Brad Ausmus. High ball for ball 2. Eckstein flies out.
Jason Lane is due up after making some plays in the field for Houston. Take your base. Chris is probably not happy with that pitch. So much for Lane getting on, it was nice to get at least one out. However, Ausmus made it to first. Everett is up. Darn, Everett found a gap in the infield. Runners on first and 2nd. Pettite is up. Can we get a double play? Unfortunately, no, but he did hit a sacrifice bunt. Infield meeting. Top of the line up with Biggio. He lined straight to Sanders for the 3rd out. We are headed to the 5th.
Edmonds is up. He's having a better night already but we need every player to score. Edmonds grounds out to the pitcher. Pujols grounds out to 3rd. Sanders hits a two-out single. This inning was quick as Walker grounds out.
Burke strikes out but Molina drops the ball in the bottom of the 5th. Gosh, Berkman found a gap! Ensberg is up. Strike out. Lamb due up. He's out.
Top of the 6th. The man of the hour Grudzielanek hits a fair ball down the 3rd base line. He'll be credited with a single as he was robbed of a double by a mile. Molina gets a base hit. Luna has an infield out. Quick inning again as Carp grounds out.
Bottom 6th with Lane due up. Reggie robs him of that hit. Ausmus flies out to Walker. What will Everett do? Foul! Carp throws him out. Pettite would be due up next. Is he done?
Seventh inning coming right up. Eckstein leads off. It's late in the game, we have to hold the lead. Safe! High throw there from Everett. I guess being shorter than the usual has some advantages. Edmonds up next. Pettite seems to think that Eckstein will steal. He might, but not right now. Okay, I was wrong. Eckstein failed to steal 2nd. Bad move on David's part. Again! Edmonds was safe because Lamb did not have a foot on the bag. Even on the replay, Jim was safe. Pujols comes to bat as Pettite is done. Chad Qualls has came in for relief. Pujols is out on the first clean throw to first this inning. Reggie has great numbers against this pitcher. Reggie grounds to third.
Stretch time here in the 7th! The pitcher is due up and then the top of the lineup. Orlando Palmeiro is pinch-hitting for Chad Qualls. Biggio and Berkman are next. Eckstein makes the catch and throws to first. Carp has thrown 101 pitches now. Luna makes an error and Biggio gets aboard. I hope Rolen is healthy next season...and Nunez. Holy cow! I thought it was fair but the ump calls it a foul ball. This was a great call. Molina would have been wise to have let it roll foul though. Astros fans must be upset but Larry Poncino made the right call. Burke is up. One out. Runner on first. Carp has him with a full count. We know what Burke can do. Base hit to right field and we now have runners on the corners. Darn it! Berkman hits a home run. Once again, the Cardinals are down 4-2. That strike has quieted the crowd a little. Ensberg is thrown out at 2nd. Lamb had a good cut but drew the strike. He pops up to Jim in order to end the inning. The damage has been done though.
We head to the 8th inning. I have faith. This is the 8th inning. We've done it before. We'll do it again. We're gonna bring it back to Busch. Larry Walker is due at the plate. Walker continues his poor hitting during the postseason. Mike Gallo lasted 1/3 of an inning as the Stros bring in Wheeler. They did a double switch prior to that and brought Willy Taveras in to CF. Berkman moves to 1B. Mike Lamb is done for the night. Grudzielanek is up. He flies out to Taveras. We are 4 outs away from elimination. I am keeping the faith. Yadier Molina is at the plate. Darn it. GO CARDS!
Bottom of the 8th. Let's hold 'em and bring it back to Busch! Lane leads it off. Jason Isringhausen relieves Chris Carpenter. Izzy should get the win. John Mabry takes over in right field. Lane flies out to Edmonds. Ausmus is up. End the inning quickly and let's bring it back to Busch. Eckstein picks it up and throws out Brad Ausmus. One more out in the 8th and the Cards will bring it back to Busch with some great offense and defense. Lidge is warming up for the Astros. Everett evens the count at 2-2. I want a final World Series at Busch. A moon shot but foul. This inning is over.
We head to the 9th and hope to bring it back to Busch Stadium. This is our final hour if our offense doesn't pick it up. GO CARDS! John Rodriguez pinch its for Hector Luna. JRod can hit! Darn it! JRod strikes out. One away. If we cannot pull it off, I will be sick in my stomach. FOX, please stop showing the HR. Come on, Mabry! I have faith. I still have faith. G-d, please hear me now. Can you give us one more game? Come on, Eckstein! Do not end this game. COME ON CARDS!!! Thank you, Eckstein! Edmonds, you've came through with GW's in the past. Six alone at Minute Maid. David steals 2nd. Even count at 1-1. That was almost in his thigh. Pujols on deck. Pujols comes to bat as Edmonds is walked. Pujols has had a good postseason. St. Louis will not choke. We've came back to win 39 times this year. Strike one was low, would have been a ball. Thank you, Albert! Praise the Lord! Reggie Sanders is up. He strikes out. Biggio is out of the game after being relieved by Eric Bruntlett.
Bottom of the 9th. We just need three outs. Taveras was just beat by a sliding Pujols--who is the savior for the Cardinals. One away. Vizcaino is pinch-hitting for Bruntlett. The count is 1-2 to Jose. Pujols stays busy as Vizcaino grounds out to Albert. One more out. Do not remind me about the next guy. Chris Burke flies to So Taguchi.
WE'RE GOING BACK TO BUSCH! ALBERT "THE GREAT" PUJOLS IS THE MVP THIS YEAR.
No comments:
Post a Comment