When I got home from dinner, the score of the Nationals vs St. Louis Cardinals game was 6-1 in favor of Davie Johnson's Washington team. As I walked in the door the Cards were starting to get to Gio Gonzales and had runners on base. The Cards scored 2 runs in the top half of the 5th inning and the score was 6-3 going into the bottom half of the inning. Gonzalez had been shutting out the cards threw the first three inning, but he was wild walking 4 in his 5 innings of work and the Cards started nibbling away at the Nationals 6 run lead with a run in the forth.
Adam Wainwright was just flat out awful giving up 6 runs on 7 hits and 3 home runs by Ryan Zimmerman, Brian Harper and Michael Morris in 2 1/3 innings. The Cardinals bull pen of Kelly, Rosenthal, Mujica and Boggs were the complete opposite and shut down the Nationals giving up only one hit over the next 4 2/3 innings. They allowed the Cards bats to come to life little by little, nibbling away, at the Nationals 6 run lead.
The Cards dug in and played terrific defense to back up the marvelous pitching. On the other hand the Nationals bull pen could not hold the 6-3 lead Gonzalez gave them giving up 6 runs, on 5 hits and 4 walks in one of the most amazing games I have ever watched.
The never say die 2011 Champions were three outs away from elimination in this years championship run when ex Mets Carlos Beltran came to bat. Beltran had a marvelous series hitting .444 and last night was perfect getting on base 5 times in 5 at bats, with 3 hits and two walks. His final hit a lazer to right center landed him on second base and the Cards had their lead off hitter on base in scoring position.
What happened next was sheer magic. The Nations had their closer on the mound in Drew Storen and after two quick out and with Beltran now on third, St. Louis was down to their last out.
St. Louis got down to their last strike it seemed on every batter from Yadier Molina to Pete Kosma. Mitch Storen walked Molina, then Alan Freese, who almost struck out on a very close check swing, first base umpire Ed Hickox was not going to end the game on a check swing, loading the bases. Molina was replaced by Chambers, taking over his spot on second as Daniel Delcalso came to bat and of course the count went to 3-2 and the Nationals were one strike away from celebration and a spot in the NLCS.
Delcalso had other plans, or should I say, someone had other plans, when he lined a one hop bullet up the middle that ate up the sure handed Ian Desmond and both Beltran and Adron Chambers scored to tie the game at 7 all. The look of terror on the Nationals fans faces said everything. How could this be happening to their heroes? How could they be that close and not win the game?
The next batter Pete Kosma, a rookie who has been sent down to AAA this year and was lucky to be on the 40 man roster, would ruin a marvelous 98 win season of the Washington Nationals.
Kosma took Storen, who Davie Johnson stayed with, to three and two, once again, one strike away from now ending a disastrous ending to a 6 run lead. Kosma, stroked the ball down the right field line, driving in the last two runners who were still on base and a improbable 9-7 lead.
The last half of the 9th was all Jason Motte, the converted catcher with the 100 MPH fastball was dominate getting the National 1 2 3 and the Cardinals completed one of the greatest comebacks of all time.
As Delcalso clutched the final out and Cards stormed the mound, the Nationals and their fans stood in silent shock with looks of what just happened on their faces.
This unbelievable turn of events has the Cards in the NCLS against the Giants. What a wonderful time for Cardinals Fans as they must be deliriously happy after last nights magical ending.
Lets Go Cards
Adam Wainwright was just flat out awful giving up 6 runs on 7 hits and 3 home runs by Ryan Zimmerman, Brian Harper and Michael Morris in 2 1/3 innings. The Cardinals bull pen of Kelly, Rosenthal, Mujica and Boggs were the complete opposite and shut down the Nationals giving up only one hit over the next 4 2/3 innings. They allowed the Cards bats to come to life little by little, nibbling away, at the Nationals 6 run lead.
The Cards dug in and played terrific defense to back up the marvelous pitching. On the other hand the Nationals bull pen could not hold the 6-3 lead Gonzalez gave them giving up 6 runs, on 5 hits and 4 walks in one of the most amazing games I have ever watched.
The never say die 2011 Champions were three outs away from elimination in this years championship run when ex Mets Carlos Beltran came to bat. Beltran had a marvelous series hitting .444 and last night was perfect getting on base 5 times in 5 at bats, with 3 hits and two walks. His final hit a lazer to right center landed him on second base and the Cards had their lead off hitter on base in scoring position.
What happened next was sheer magic. The Nations had their closer on the mound in Drew Storen and after two quick out and with Beltran now on third, St. Louis was down to their last out.
St. Louis got down to their last strike it seemed on every batter from Yadier Molina to Pete Kosma. Mitch Storen walked Molina, then Alan Freese, who almost struck out on a very close check swing, first base umpire Ed Hickox was not going to end the game on a check swing, loading the bases. Molina was replaced by Chambers, taking over his spot on second as Daniel Delcalso came to bat and of course the count went to 3-2 and the Nationals were one strike away from celebration and a spot in the NLCS.
Delcalso had other plans, or should I say, someone had other plans, when he lined a one hop bullet up the middle that ate up the sure handed Ian Desmond and both Beltran and Adron Chambers scored to tie the game at 7 all. The look of terror on the Nationals fans faces said everything. How could this be happening to their heroes? How could they be that close and not win the game?
The next batter Pete Kosma, a rookie who has been sent down to AAA this year and was lucky to be on the 40 man roster, would ruin a marvelous 98 win season of the Washington Nationals.
Kosma took Storen, who Davie Johnson stayed with, to three and two, once again, one strike away from now ending a disastrous ending to a 6 run lead. Kosma, stroked the ball down the right field line, driving in the last two runners who were still on base and a improbable 9-7 lead.
The last half of the 9th was all Jason Motte, the converted catcher with the 100 MPH fastball was dominate getting the National 1 2 3 and the Cardinals completed one of the greatest comebacks of all time.
As Delcalso clutched the final out and Cards stormed the mound, the Nationals and their fans stood in silent shock with looks of what just happened on their faces.
This unbelievable turn of events has the Cards in the NCLS against the Giants. What a wonderful time for Cardinals Fans as they must be deliriously happy after last nights magical ending.
Lets Go Cards
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