Cards head to third-straight NLCS

The St. Louis Cardinals began Game 3 last Saturday leading the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres 2-0 against but were unable to finish off the sweep.

Things started off rocky as Cardinals’ left fielder Chris Duncan missed a routine fly ball for a two-base error. The Cardinals’ starter, Jeff Suppan, was assisted by a remarkable play from Albert Pujols to get a fielder’s choice at home. Suppan was also aided by catcher Yadier Molina with his pickoff play to first base to get Padres’ catcher Mike Piazza. Suppan continued the game by dodging runs from a one-out double in the second and a leadoff single in the third. It was during the fourth inning, however, that the Padres struck when Russell Branyan hit a two-run double that delivered the winning runs.

The Cardinals’ offense was weak against the brilliant Padres starter, Chris Young. The Cardinals came close to scoring against Young in the bottom of the sixth inning as the top of the line came up with one out. Eckstein singled and Duncan walked, bringing Pujols up to the plate but unfortunately, Pujols stuck out. Next to bat was Jim Edmonds who flew out, nearly missing a home run. The only run put up by the Cardinals was on a homerun by pinch-hitter So Taguchi in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The final score of Game 3 was 3-1 in favor of the Padres but the St. Louis Cardinals, despite a shaky Game 3, defeated the Padres in Game 4 by a score of 6-2 to advance to their 3rd straight National League Championship Series.