Cardinals Win, Face Tigers in World Series
October 20, 2006 by Geoff Young
Filed under Playoffs
The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Mets, 3-1, in Game 7 of the NLCS on Thursday night at Shea Stadium. With Jeff Suppan and Oliver Perez on the mound, nobody expected a pitchers duel but that’s exactly what they got.
Interestingly, it was the Mets’ bullpen — best in the National League during the regular season — that blinked first again. This time, Aaron Heilman served up a two-run home run to Yadier Molina (!) in the top of the ninth. Molina, for those who didn’t get the memo, is one of the worst hitters in all of baseball.
Cardinals closer Adam Wainwright made things interesting in the bottom half, loading the bases before striking out Carlos Beltran to end the game and clinch the series. For all the money the Mets spent on Billy Wagner this past off-season to close out victories, it was Wainwright, owner of three major league saves, who sealed the deal on Thursday. Funny how the proven veteran couldn’t get the job done throughout the series, but the rookie — thrust into the closer role due an injury to Jason Isringhausen — had no such troubles.
The Cardinals next head to Detroit, where they’ll meet the Tigers in Game 1 of the World Series on Saturday. Get ready to party like it’s 1968…
