Final
Halladay, Carpenter square off with NLCS berth on the line in Philly
Oct 7, 2011 - 3:55 PMVideo
Halladay gave up three first inning runs on a Lance Berkman homer in his Game 1 start, but settled down, retiring 21 straight batters after that to earn his third postseason win.
"Well, it's another postseason game, really," Halladay said. "I don't think you can get too caught up in what game it is, what game and what it means. You get to this point in the season, they're all going to mean a lot. So, yeah, definitely to come here and pitch in the playoffs is the reason you come to a team like this."
The amazing Halladay produced yet another terrific season for the Phillies, as he went 19-6 with a 2.35 ERA, ranking first in the NL in complete games (eight) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.29), was second in ERA and innings (223 2/3), third in wins and strikeouts (220), and fourth in WHIP (1.04).
"When you get the caliber of pitcher he is, you can be in the same division with him, face him 15, 16 times a year and get four at-bats every one of those games," La Russa said. "He just has so many weapons that he can attack you every at-bat totally different."
St. Louis will counter with a former Cy Young Award winner of its own in righty Chris Carpenter, who remains good friends with Halladay dating back to their younger days with Toronto.
"I don't know if it's ever happened in an elimination game like this, that two guys who were teammates in the Minor Leagues and Major Leagues still maintain a friendship [faced off]," La Russa said. "The way we feel about competing against the Phillies and to have two pitchers of that caliber is classic. It's just a great opportunity and very exciting."
Carpenter started on three days' rest for the first time in his career in Game 2 and it showed, as he allowed four runs and five hits in just three innings.
"I wasn't sharp in Game 2, but I'm looking forward to doing a better job. It's going to be fun," Carpenter said. "It's going to be an exciting night, great atmosphere, and I'm going to go out and do the best I can."
Carpenter, who was 11-9 this year with a 3.45 ERA, has made 10 postseason starts and is 5-2 with a 3.38 ERA. However, his last win in the playoffs came back in the 2006 World Series.
Aside from his Game 2 start Carpenter has had success versus the Phillies. Since 2005, he is 5-0 with a 2.38 ERA against them and is 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA in three starts against them since the beginning of the 2010 season.
St. Louis evened this best-of-five set on Wednesday, as David Freese finished 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and drove in four runs, helping the Cardinals to a 5-3 win.
"The thing about David that makes him such a big run-producer now than in his whole career is he [hits to] left-center, right-center, and he can take the ball inside and pull it," said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa of Freese. "And he can hit the ball outside and hit it to right field. You might get him, but he's capable of making the adjustment. And as he gets more experience, he's going to be a hellacious winning player."
Skip Schumaker added two hits with a run scored and Berkman posted an RBI double and scored once for the Cardinals, while Edwin Jackson (1-0) overcame a shaky first inning and settled down to scatter five hits and two runs while fanning four in six innings.
Jason Motte completed a six-pitcher effort by turning in a perfect ninth to earn his second save.
Chase Utley posted an RBI triple and Hunter Pence notched a run-scoring single -- both in the first inning -- for the Phillies, who will play a deciding playoff contest for the first time in 30 years tonight.
Roy Oswalt (0-1) was tasked with helping send the five-time defending NL East champions into the next round. He ultimately failed, as he was charged in defeat with five runs on six hits despite five strikeouts over six full frames.
The Phillies have played just two decisive games in their 129-year history, going 1-1 with the last such contest back in 1981 ending in a loss to Montreal.
St. Louis, meanwhile, defeated the New York Mets in the seventh game of the NLCS in 2006 and is 10-5 in decisive contests.
History is not on the side of the Phils tonight, as there have been 28 decisive Game 5s and home teams are an even 14-14 in those contests. Also, road teams are 9-6 in Division Series Game 5s (both leagues combined) since baseball went to the eight-team playoff format in 1995.
National League road teams have won the last three decisive Game 5s, but the last NL home team to win a Game 5 was the 2001 D-backs, who went on to win the World Series.
Of the last nine opening-round series to go to a Game 5, the home team has won only one of those contests
St. Louis won six of its nine meetings with the Phillies this season, including three of the five matchups in the Gateway City.
- ST. LOUIS: 1
PHILADELPHIA: 0
Final
Oct 7 11:08 PM - Skip Schumaker double to right scored Rafael Furcal with none out. Runner on second and Albert Pujols due up.
Cardinals 1, Phillies 0 Top 1, 0 OutsOct 7 8:43 PM - ST. LOUIS: 0
PHILADELPHIA: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Oct 7 8:37 PM
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