Final
Cards try to secure second World Series trip in three years
Oct 18, 2006 - 2:04 PM St Louis at Ny Mets 8:19 pm EDT National League Championship Series Cardinals lead, 3-2FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - The St. Louis Cardinals are on the doorstep to compete for the title again.
With a 3-2 lead in the National League Championship Series, the Cardinals travel back to Shea Stadium for a critical Game Six matchup with the NL-East champion New York Mets on Wednesday.
After a 4-2 victory over the Mets in Game Five on Tuesday, the Cards moved one step closer to returning to the World Series for the second time in the past three years. In 2004, St. Louis faced Boston, but came away disappointed after being swept.
With a win on Wednesday, the Cardinals will move on to face the Detroit Tigers, who advanced to the Fall Classic following a four-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics in the American League Championship Series.
Jeff Weaver pitched six effective innings and reigning NL MVP Albert Pujols and pinch hitter Chris Duncan both homered for St. Louis, which got three scoreless frames from its bullpen.
"It's a dream come true," said Cards closer Adam Wainwright, who tossed a perfect ninth for his second save this postseason. "One game away from the World Series, it's something you dream about ever since you were a little kid in the backyard."
Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, Chris Carpenter (2-0, 3.93 ERA) will try to set up the Cardinals for a champagne celebration when he takes the mound in Game Six. However, the righthander will have to correct some mistakes he made in Game Two last Friday, being reached for five runs, six hits and four walks in five innings.
Carpenter did not factor in the outcome of the 9-6 Cardinals win. He also disagrees with the belief that the Mets' hitters will give him trouble since they will be facing him again.
"I don't buy into it," Carpenter said. "I think that you have to go out and execute your gameplan and execute pitches. No matter who you're facing and what you're doing, I mean, it's called pitching. That's what you do. You have to go out and you have to make pitches. And if you make pitches, you're going to have some success."
The Mets will try to fight off elimination behind the arm of rookie John Maine (0-0, 4.32), who did not get a decision, but gave up four runs - three earned - and two hits while walking five in just four frames of Game Two.
Maine realizes what he needs to correct in order to be effective.
"I think my biggest thing is I've got...I was walking too many people," Maine said. That's what hurts. Just go out there and throw strikes, fastball, work off that, just got to keep the walks down."
New York manager Willie Randolph feels there is not a lot of pressure on the 25-year-old righthander.
"I don't think there will be much (pressure) on him (Maine)," Randolph stated. "Johnny felt pretty good tonight."
Game Seven is scheduled here Thursday if necessary.
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