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Cardinals look to take series lead over Mets

Oct 14, 2006 - 2:58 PM NY Mets at St. Louis 8:05 pm EDT National League Championship Series Series tied, 1-1

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The St. Louis Cardinals proved Thursday's four-hit outing was not indicative of what they are truly capable of.

St. Louis looks for continued offensive support from So Taguchi and Scott Spiezio on Saturday as they host the New York Mets in Game Three of the National League Championship Series.

After managing just four hits in a 2-0 loss in the series opener, the Cardinals received timely hitting from unlikely sources in a 9-6 victory in Game Two.

With only two home runs in the regular season and 16 in his career, Taguchi will never be confused with Barry Bonds or teammate Albert Pujols. However, he has gone deep in both his postseason at-bats this year, including a solo blast off Mets closer Billy Wagner in the ninth inning on Friday to snap a 6-6 tie.

Taguchi was a late replacement for rookie left fielder Chris Duncan in the bottom of the eighth inning.

"I'm supposed to be a pinch hitter. I was behind the dugout and (manager Tony La Russa) said, 'Go to left,'" Taguchi said. "I was surprised. I just said, 'Right now?' He said, 'Yes.'"

Following a two-run triple in the seventh that tied the score, Spiezio added an RBI double in the ninth. That was followed by a run-scoring single by Juan Encarnacion.

Spiezio started at third base on Friday since Scott Rolen is struggling with a sore left shoulder and is just 1-for-14 in the postseason.

"Every once in awhile, I've got to jump in there and do my best, and you know, it's exciting to play," Spiezio said. "It's an opportunity for me to go out and try to help my team win. It's what every kid dreams of as far as being able to play in postseason games."

Spiezio was a member of the Anaheim Angels' 2002 championship team, delivering a three-run homer in Game Six of the World Series against San Francisco.

Jeff Suppan (0-1, 6.23 ERA) will try for some redemption after taking the Cardinals' lone defeat against the San Diego Padres in the NL Division Series. He yielded three runs and six hits in just 4 1/3 innings of Game Three last Saturday.

Suppan was 12-7 with a 4.12 ERA in the regular season, including a defeat to the Mets on May 16 after surrendering four runs and six hits in 6 2/3 frames.

The Mets counter with Steve Trachsel (0-0, 5.40), who has been a good luck charm for his team this season. New York is 17-6 in his last 23 outings and he has started the squad's two clinching games in 2006.

After posting a 15-8 mark with a 4.98 ERA in the regular season, Trachsel did not get a decision in Game Three against the Los Angeles Dodgers last Saturday. He lasted just 3 1/3 frames and allowed two runs and six hits.

"You have to kind of play it each game and each batter at a time, and the situation that you're faced with dictates what's going to happen," Trachsel said. "You know, my focus is simply just executing pitches, and if I do that, then I should be out there for quite a while."

Carlos Delgado belted two homers and drove in four runs and Jose Reyes collected three hits for the Mets, who saw their eight-game winning streak, dating to the regular season, ended after failing to hold a 3-0 lead on Friday.

"The adrenaline gets fired up, you get fired up a little bit more (and) the energy level is higher (in the playoffs)," Delgado said. "If you can control your emotions and just go out and play the game you've always been playing, chances are you're going to be better off."

The teams will again square off again here in Game Four on Sunday and Game Five on Monday.