The stage had been set. We could feel it in the pits of our stomachs. With one strike to go in game 5, Albert Pujols breaks our hearts and our spirits with a three run bomb to force the National League Championship Series back to St. Louis. Oh, no, we think to ourselves, here it comes. Another post-season collapse, another season sputters and falls just short. Not this year, not this team. Showing same grit and determination that allowed the team to crawl out of a 15-30 hole to win the wild card, the Astros are headed for the Fall Classic.
Over the last 15 years or so, the Bagwell-Biggio years, the Astros have not been known as a clutch team, if anything, they were known as a team to fold when the pressure of the playoffs was turned up. They also had the bad luck to get matched up with the Braves and their pitching during the heyday of Maddox, Smoltz, and Glavine. Tonight, however, they proved again, as they have done all season and through the postseason, that they can come up big when the chips are down.
Craig Biggio 2 for 5, 1 run, 1 RBI
Brad Ausmus 3 for 4, 1 run
On a night when resident power producer Lance Berkman went 0 for 4, the veterans stepped up with key offensive production. Where the Astros of years past worked for the long ball, this team plays with a small ball mentality and tonight was no exception: hit and runs, bunts, a suicide squeeze; all the fine points, the dots on the "i".
They could not play this way without dominant pitching and they got it from Roy Oswalt, who was dominating and earned the Most Valuable Player honor for the series.
Roy Oswalt 7 innings pitched, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 6 strikeouts
With an exceptional command of his fastball, Oswalt was able to keep the potent Cardinal hitters, particularly the lethal middle of the lineup, from doing any damage.
David Eckstein 0 for 3
Jim Edmonds 0 for 3
Albert Pujols 0 for 4
Larry Walker 1 for 4
Reggie Sanders 0 for 3
An early at-bat between Oswalt and Pujols exemplifies the futility of the St. Louis batters: Oswalt sends Pujolz back to the bench with an inside fastball that cut the slugger out and sent him pinwheeling through the batters box. Pujolz, batting .304 for the series and hero of game 5, was helpless.
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Article comments
1 - LegendaryMonkey
I gotta give it to them. The Astros did in fact kick ass with some incredible saves here, but it's a sad day for Cards fans, as this is not the best way things could have ended at Busch Stadium. Too many wild pitches and missed catches.
*sigh*
Goodbye, old stadium. And there's always next year, with the new digs and all.
Though there was one VERY bad call mid-game at second base. Tsk.
2 - Yashin
Pujols' three-run bomb on Monday night had all of the hallmarks of a Series turning point, but the Astros kept their nerve.
After some injury setbacks Oswalt is quietly building himself a reputation as one of the very best pitchers in the game.
I like the balance of the Astros going into the WS: dominant starters, solid relievers and clutch hitters.
But of course the very same could be said of the White Sox. Their staff ERA for the playoffs is a stingy 2.50 and their bullpen has yet to give up a run. Beuhrle has always had class and Garcia has shown it in past seasons, but Contreras must feel truly vindicated after his torrid time at the Yankees. I've been amazed that Garland can keep himself going this long.
And if their hitting hasn't been too impressive across the board (only Joe 'Mr Clutch' Crede is batting above .300), they've made the runs that counted.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
Game on.
I know what I'm doin' Saturday.
4 - Scott
I was kinda hoping the Cards would make it because I think the White Sox will have no problem beating the Astros and after last year's 4 game World Series, I wanted something with a little more action and drama. Ya just can't beat those game 7 situations.
Of course, I was orginally predicting a Angels/Cardinals world series and we see how far off that one was. Maybe the Astros do have a shot.
5 - The Errant Fool
The 2nd base call was bad but, with the ump out of position and Everett really selling the tag, it was an understandable mistake. It's the kind of moment the Astros normally have working against them. It was almost odd - as it has been this entire postseason - to see the Astros not only get those kind of calls but take advantage of them. It's been a postseason of role reversal for Houston.
As for the White Sox, I think it will be a great series - a throwback to old school, fundamental baseball - pitching, manufacturing runs, bunting, etc. I think, all things considered, the teams are pretty even. Obviously the White Sox won more games over the season but, since June, nobody is hotter than the Astros. It should be a great series.
6 - Scott
I think the Astros will be lucky to score even one run per game. Houston's pitching is good as well but they just can't do anything with runners in scoring position.
And they have had the calls going their way. The 8th inning of that 18 inning marathon between the 'Stros and the Braves comes to mind. They got very lucky there.
7 - The Errant Fool
A little luck can help a team go a long way. That is often how it goes with streaking teams.
The Astros bats have been poor with runners on overall but I like how they've been able to gut out clutch hits. I see this streak continuing and, don't forget, in the AL, the Astros add another bat in the DH position. That gives Garner the opportunity to add more pop to the lineup there (perhaps with Bagwell?)