My schedule is whack right now. I came home from the bar and crashed for a bit. It is almost world series time. Control V is so nice ;). Stadium Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO Attendance 46,899 (106.6% full) - % is based on regular season capacity Game Time 2:59 Weather 52 degrees, partly cloudy Wind 10 mph Umpires Home Plate - Greg Gibson, First Base - Gerry Davis, Second Base - Mark Carlson, Third Base - Mike Everitt 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Los Angeles Dodgers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 St Louis Cardinals 0 0 4 0 5 0 0 0 - 9 13 0 Carlos Beltran followed with another key hit in a four-run third inning that stunned the Dodgers ace, Michael Wacha was again magnificent on the mound and St. Louis advanced to its second World Series in three seasons by roughing up Los Angeles 9-0 in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Friday night. Im so happy right now. We did it as a team, Beltran said. We fought hard, we worked hard all season long and thank God were here. Wacha, 22, was selected MVP of the NLCS after throwing 13 2/3 scoreless innings and beating Kershaw twice in the series. The first rookie to win the award since Livan Hernandez in 1997 for the Marlins pitched seven innings of two-hit ball Friday. We want to see it a few more times, a couple at least, manager Mike Matheny said. With four runs in the third and five more in the fifth, the Cardinals quickly removed all the tension surrounding a team that squandered a 3-1 series lead in the NLCS last fall against San Francisco. Game 1 of the World Series is Wednesday at the winner of the American League Championship Series between the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers. The Cardinals won their 19th NL pennant and will be trying for their third World Series title since 2006, having last won in 2011. The glamorous Dodgers, with the second-highest payroll in baseball at $220 million, failed to reach the World Series for the first time since they won it all in 1988. Going through spring, the long season and then it just comes to a crash, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. So, its disappointing for all of us. After losing Game 5 in Los Angeles, the Cardinals turned to the 22-year-old Wacha once again. The right-hander was even better in outpitching Kershaw for the second time this series. It was 52 degrees at game time, a 23-degree drop from the Kershaw-Wacha matchup in Game 2 six days earlier, and Kershaw never got warmed up. The lefty wasnt in the mood to talk about a season in which he had a majors-best 1.83 ERA, either. If you dont win, whats the point? Kershaw said. It doesnt really matter. All this stuff. The top NL CY Young Award candidate was knocked out of a start without finishing the fifth inning for the first time this season. I think the first time we faced him he was very tough, Beltran said. This time he was a little off, but that doesnt mean anything. Beltran, 36, had three hits, drove in two runs and made a spectacular catch in right field, helping him advance to the World Series for the first time in his 16-year career. Perhaps showing the Cardinals werent stressed by the possibility of a second straight postseason meltdown, Games 1 and 5 starter Joe Kelly had a post-national anthem staredown against Dodgers reserve outfielder Scott Van Slyke that was broken up by fed-up plate umpire Greg Gibson after several minutes. Kelly blinked first then, but when it counted, St. Louis wouldnt budge. It was just something fun to start the game off, Van Slyke said. I dont think Ive ever talked to Joe. Beltran followed Carpenters gritty double with an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. Mattingly thought Carpenters grinding at-bat was the key. From there, Mattingly said, it just seemed like the floodgates opened. ... Took a lot out of him. With two outs, Yadier Molina added an RBI single. Shane Robinson drove in two runs with a single in his first career postseason start after replacing slumping Jon Jay -- and advanced to second base on Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puigs first of two errors in the Cardinals big innings. The Cuban defector, who stood in the outfield during the eighth inning with his arms crossed, also struck out twice and was booed heartily. Hanley Ramirez, a last-minute addition to the Dodgers lineup, went 0-for-3 while playing with a broken rib. Kershaw needed 48 pitches to get out of the third, the most pitches of his career. He took exception with one pitch in particular, complaining to Gibson after Matt Adams full-count walk loaded the bases. The Dodgers bench also was vocal after the call on a pitch that might have been an inch or two low of the strike zone. The Cardinals knocked Kershaw out in the five-run fifth. Molina and David Freese led off with singles, and Adams followed with a double to chase Kershaw. Wacha drove in a run with a fielders choice grounder, and Carpenter had a sacrifice fly. Beltran capped the inning with an RBI single -- his 37th postseason RBI in 45 career games. Wacha has a minuscule 0.43 ERA in three postseason starts, one of the gems coming in Game 4 of the division series to keep the Cardinals alive. In his last regular-season start and with the NL Central up for grabs, he no-hit the Nationals for 8 2/3 innings. Beltran was the star of the Cardinals 3-2, 13-inning Game 1 victory, driving in all three runs plus making a perfect throw to keep it tied in extra innings. Kershaw was charged with seven runs on 10 hits in four-plus innings Friday. The lefty led the majors in ERA the past three years but has lost five straight starts against St. Louis. None of his outings this year was shorter than five innings, and the most runs he allowed was five, on two occasions. The four-run fourth was his worst inning since July 24, 2012, at St. Louis, when Kershaw yielded eight runs in 5 2/3 innings -- six in the sixth. Hes the best pitcher in baseball. Hes a real tough at-bat, Carpenter said. He got ahead of me like he almost always does. I struck out my first at-bat. And honestly, when he got two strikes on me the second at-bat, my mindset immediately changed. Im not striking out. The Dodgers didnt have much of a chance again Wacha. Carl Crawford led off the game with an infield hit but was erased on Mark Ellis double-play ball. A.J. Ellis doubled to start the sixth and didnt advance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Coverage: ESPN 8:00 PM ET, October 18, 2013 Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium, LOUISVILLE, KY UCF scores in final minute to ruin Louisvilles bid for perfect season University of Central Florida Knights Upsets No. 8 Louisville Cardinal Highlight Of The Night: UCF erased a 21-point deficit to rally past undefeated Louisville for a 38-35 win. LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Blake Bortles and Central Florida had one last rally left, and it was enough to topple Teddy Bridgewater and No. 8 Louisville. Bortles threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Godfrey with 23 seconds remaining and the Knights stunned the Cardinals with a 38-35 victory on Friday night, ending Louisvilles perfect start. I said, `Lets get some 2-minute calls ready, Bortles said. We knew we were going to have to go 2-minute. ... Our offensive line did a great job and our receivers did a great job of getting yards after the catch. Down 28-7 midway through the third quarter, the Knights (5-1, 2-0 American Athletic Conference) responded with three touchdowns in a 7:22 span. Storm Johnson had a 1-yard TD run and a 20-yard reception for another score, and William Stanback ran 12 yards for the tying TD. UCF then went in front on Shawn Moffitts 34-yard field goal with 7:36 remaining. Louisville (6-1, 2-1) reclaimed the lead on Dominique Browns 15-yard run with three minutes to go, but the Knights drove 75 yards in 11 plays to take the lead for good on Bortles TD and then held off the Cardinals comeback attempt. Bridgewater made one last desperate heave into the end zone as time expired, but the Heisman Trophy contender was unable to find anyone. The Knights then rushed the field in jubilation as a small gathering of fans in one section chanted UCF, UCF! What can you say? It was a heck of a game, Knights coach George OLeary said. Both teams played their hearts out. That was a great drive and it was a great win in a tough environment. Obviously, its a big win. Its a big win because of the conference. We had great effort and great execution. ... We could have hung our heads, but we got after it. Bortles finished 21-of-32 passing for 250 yards and two touchdowns while Johnson rushed for 109 yards and a TD on 18 carries, leading a spirited comeback during which the Knights outgained the Cardinals 269-210 in the second half to finish with a 446-445 edge. It was Central Floridas second win over a ranked team in 27 attempts. It came in the lone conference meeting between the schools; The Cardinals are headed to the Atlantic Coast Conference next season. It felt good seeing that clock hit zero, Godfrey said in an elated Knights locker room. It was a great feeling inside, a great win for the program and UCF Nation. Struggling against a defense that entered the night allowing a nation-best 7.3 points per game and No. 2 against the run, UCF eventually found room to run when Johnson started to cut and bounce his way to extra yardage. Bortles chipped in with crisp passing, especially on the 20-yard pass to Johnson following a fumble recovery on the Cardinals 15. The combination of Johnson and Bortles ruined Louisvilles homecoming and its 100th game at Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium before a crowd of 55,215. You cant live in misery or live in a loss, Bridgewater said after the Cardinals first loss since November to Connecticut. We are the type of team that has mature guys and I am pretty sure our guys are switching their focus to South Florida. One loss doesnt determine the whole season. Bridgewater finished 29-of-38 passing for 341 yards and two touchdowns. He welcomed back top receiver DeVante Parker from a shoulder injury, connecting for a 29-yard pass on Louisvilles opening drive. Bridgewater also went to former high school teammate Eli Rogers, who finished with 10 receptions for 95 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown that gave Louisville a 7-0 lead. Ryan Hubbells fumble that hit the pylon for a touchback and a punt on the next drive prevented the Cardinals from expanding the lead, and UCF scored on its fifth possession. Johnsons 23-yard reception helped prolong the 71-yard drive, but Stanbacks recovery of Rannell Halls fumble at the 4 turned out to be the key play. Stanback scored on the next play. Louisville responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive ending with Bridgewaters 10-yard TD pass to Parker in double coverage just before halftime. The Cardinals then emerged from the locker room to drive 75 yards for a 21-7 lead on Dominique Browns 20-yard touchdown run up the middle. Louisville seemed to be in control after James Quicks 30-yard return of punter Caleb Houstons fumbled snap made it 28-7, but UCF wasnt fazed. We tell our kids to never, never give up, OLeary said. Our kids were jumping to the music. I knew we were going to be OK. We had a couple of good things happen and it lit a fire.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 08:01:50 +0000
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