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HOUSTON ASTROS @ ST. LOUIS CARDINALS ML -150 & OVER 7
Houston Astros (3-2) at St. Louis Cardinals (2-3), 8:28 PM. EST.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Roy Oswalt (2-0, 2.51) St. Louis - Mark Mulder (1-1, 1.32)
Roy Oswalt, who has yet to lose a postseason game in his career, will try to propel the Houston Astros to their first berth in the World Series when they battle the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday in Game 6 of the NLCS at Busch Stadium.
Houston was one strike away from eliminating St. Louis on Monday, before the Cardinals rallied for the victory in Game 5 of the best-of-seven matchup. Albert Pujols' three-run homer off Brad Lidge with two outs in the top of the ninth inning lifted St. Louis to a 5-4 triumph at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros will try again to finally win an elimination game in the NLCS. They are 0-5 in such contests, losing the final two games to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980 and then faltering against St. Louis in Games 6 and 7 last year.
"Last year, obviously we had two bites at the apple. This year we've got three, and we've got two more to go," Astros general manager Tim Purpura said. "We've got one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball going, and we've got another dominant pitcher going the night after that. So we feel, certainly, very well set up for it."
If the Astros can't win with Oswalt, a 20-game winner during the regular season, they'll still have the fortune of turning to seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens for a possible Game 7 on Thursday.
Pete Munro was replaced early in Game 6 last year before the Astros lost 6-4 in 12 innings. Clemens was then tagged with the loss in Game 7.
Tonight's pitching matchup is a repeat from Game 2 last Thursday when Oswalt beat Mark Mulder.
Oswalt is 2-0 in the 2005 postseason. Last Thursday, he yielded only one run on five hits in seven innings, while walking three and striking out six in Houston's 4-1 win.
Oswalt has a career mark of 3-0 in the playoffs. The righthander faced the Cardinals twice in the 2004 NLCS, including one start, and did not receive a decision while posting an earned run average of 6.75.
Now, he pitches again at Busch Stadium, which will be demolished after the playoffs to make way for the Cardinals to play in a new home ballpark in 2006 with the same name.
"This stadium has a lot of baseball memories in it, and to come back here and pitch in this stadium before it's gone is great," Oswalt said. "Hopefully the biggest thing with us is to get going early, get in a groove early and hopefully get some momentum going our way."
Mulder suffered the loss in Game 2 despite giving up only two runs -- one earned -- on eight hits in seven innings. He walked two and fanned six in his first career League Championship Series start.
Mulder is 1-1 in the 2005 playoffs with a stellar 1.32 earned run average.
The lefthander has made six career postseason starts, including four as a member of Oakland, and owns a record of 3-3.
"It's going to be fun. It's a challenge," Mulder said of his Game 6 start. "I think everybody on this staff, including myself, you want to be out there in an important game and be that guy who has got to make the pitches and get the job done."
Mark Grudzielanek added two RBI Monday night for the defending National League champion Cardinals, who came back after relinquishing a 2-1 lead in the seventh. David Eckstein added two hits and two runs scored for St. Louis.
Lance Berkman cracked a three-run, seventh-inning homer to give Houston a 4-2 lead, which appeared safe with one of the most dominant closers on the hill.
However, after Lidge struck out the first two batters he faced in the ninth, Eckstein started the rally with a two-strike single to left. Lidge then walked Jim Edmonds to force the matchup with Pujols.
Lidge's first pitch was a strike, but his second offering was sent onto the tracks in left field to give St. Louis a 5-4 lead.
The home run against Lidge (0-1), who suffered the loss, was the first he has surrendered in 14 career postseason appearances covering 21 1/3 innings.
St. Louis closer Jason Isringhausen (1-0) threw the final two innings to get the win. He came on after Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter threw seven solid innings. Carpenter allowed four runs -- three earned -- on nine hits, while striking out six and walking one.
Houston starter Andy Pettitte tossed 6 1/3 strong innings. He allowed just two runs on seven hits, while fanning four and walking two.
Incredibly, the Astros started this season 15-30 and didn't clinch a spot in the playoffs until locking up the wild card on the final day of the regular season. Now, they're on the verge of making history.
In fact, the last three wild card clubs (Anaheim, Florida, Boston) have captured the world championship.
The winner of the NLCS will tangle with the Chicago White Sox in the World Series, scheduled to start Saturday night at U.S. Cellular Field. The White Sox used four straight complete games to polish off the LA Angels of Anaheim in five games in the ALCS.
If the Cardinals win tonight, Matt Morris would start Game 7 for St. Louis.
*The Cardinals are 53-32 at home this season.
* The Astros are 38-47 away from home this season.
* The Cardinals are 3-1 at home in postseason.
* The Astros are 2-2 on the road in postseason.
EXTRA BASES:
Cardinals outfielder John Rodriguez thinks the Astros celebrate too much. Most of Houston`s team was on the field after a game-ending double play in Game 4 on Sunday. Rodriguez agreed it was an impressive play, ``but just the way they were jumping around, it was like they were going to the World Series. Don`t count your chickens because all of them might not be hatched.`` ... Houston is 0-5 in potential NLCS-clinching games. ... Albert Pujols has seven homers in NLCS games, second-most to Steve Garvey`s eight. ... Pujols is hitting .447 (21-for-47) with six homers in 12 NLCS games against the Astros.
Houston Astros (3-2) at St. Louis Cardinals (2-3), 8:28 PM. EST.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Roy Oswalt (2-0, 2.51) St. Louis - Mark Mulder (1-1, 1.32)
Roy Oswalt, who has yet to lose a postseason game in his career, will try to propel the Houston Astros to their first berth in the World Series when they battle the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday in Game 6 of the NLCS at Busch Stadium.
Houston was one strike away from eliminating St. Louis on Monday, before the Cardinals rallied for the victory in Game 5 of the best-of-seven matchup. Albert Pujols' three-run homer off Brad Lidge with two outs in the top of the ninth inning lifted St. Louis to a 5-4 triumph at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros will try again to finally win an elimination game in the NLCS. They are 0-5 in such contests, losing the final two games to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980 and then faltering against St. Louis in Games 6 and 7 last year.
"Last year, obviously we had two bites at the apple. This year we've got three, and we've got two more to go," Astros general manager Tim Purpura said. "We've got one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball going, and we've got another dominant pitcher going the night after that. So we feel, certainly, very well set up for it."
If the Astros can't win with Oswalt, a 20-game winner during the regular season, they'll still have the fortune of turning to seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens for a possible Game 7 on Thursday.
Pete Munro was replaced early in Game 6 last year before the Astros lost 6-4 in 12 innings. Clemens was then tagged with the loss in Game 7.
Tonight's pitching matchup is a repeat from Game 2 last Thursday when Oswalt beat Mark Mulder.
Oswalt is 2-0 in the 2005 postseason. Last Thursday, he yielded only one run on five hits in seven innings, while walking three and striking out six in Houston's 4-1 win.
Oswalt has a career mark of 3-0 in the playoffs. The righthander faced the Cardinals twice in the 2004 NLCS, including one start, and did not receive a decision while posting an earned run average of 6.75.
Now, he pitches again at Busch Stadium, which will be demolished after the playoffs to make way for the Cardinals to play in a new home ballpark in 2006 with the same name.
"This stadium has a lot of baseball memories in it, and to come back here and pitch in this stadium before it's gone is great," Oswalt said. "Hopefully the biggest thing with us is to get going early, get in a groove early and hopefully get some momentum going our way."
Mulder suffered the loss in Game 2 despite giving up only two runs -- one earned -- on eight hits in seven innings. He walked two and fanned six in his first career League Championship Series start.
Mulder is 1-1 in the 2005 playoffs with a stellar 1.32 earned run average.
The lefthander has made six career postseason starts, including four as a member of Oakland, and owns a record of 3-3.
"It's going to be fun. It's a challenge," Mulder said of his Game 6 start. "I think everybody on this staff, including myself, you want to be out there in an important game and be that guy who has got to make the pitches and get the job done."
Mark Grudzielanek added two RBI Monday night for the defending National League champion Cardinals, who came back after relinquishing a 2-1 lead in the seventh. David Eckstein added two hits and two runs scored for St. Louis.
Lance Berkman cracked a three-run, seventh-inning homer to give Houston a 4-2 lead, which appeared safe with one of the most dominant closers on the hill.
However, after Lidge struck out the first two batters he faced in the ninth, Eckstein started the rally with a two-strike single to left. Lidge then walked Jim Edmonds to force the matchup with Pujols.
Lidge's first pitch was a strike, but his second offering was sent onto the tracks in left field to give St. Louis a 5-4 lead.
The home run against Lidge (0-1), who suffered the loss, was the first he has surrendered in 14 career postseason appearances covering 21 1/3 innings.
St. Louis closer Jason Isringhausen (1-0) threw the final two innings to get the win. He came on after Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter threw seven solid innings. Carpenter allowed four runs -- three earned -- on nine hits, while striking out six and walking one.
Houston starter Andy Pettitte tossed 6 1/3 strong innings. He allowed just two runs on seven hits, while fanning four and walking two.
Incredibly, the Astros started this season 15-30 and didn't clinch a spot in the playoffs until locking up the wild card on the final day of the regular season. Now, they're on the verge of making history.
In fact, the last three wild card clubs (Anaheim, Florida, Boston) have captured the world championship.
The winner of the NLCS will tangle with the Chicago White Sox in the World Series, scheduled to start Saturday night at U.S. Cellular Field. The White Sox used four straight complete games to polish off the LA Angels of Anaheim in five games in the ALCS.
If the Cardinals win tonight, Matt Morris would start Game 7 for St. Louis.
*The Cardinals are 53-32 at home this season.
* The Astros are 38-47 away from home this season.
* The Cardinals are 3-1 at home in postseason.
* The Astros are 2-2 on the road in postseason.
EXTRA BASES:
Cardinals outfielder John Rodriguez thinks the Astros celebrate too much. Most of Houston`s team was on the field after a game-ending double play in Game 4 on Sunday. Rodriguez agreed it was an impressive play, ``but just the way they were jumping around, it was like they were going to the World Series. Don`t count your chickens because all of them might not be hatched.`` ... Houston is 0-5 in potential NLCS-clinching games. ... Albert Pujols has seven homers in NLCS games, second-most to Steve Garvey`s eight. ... Pujols is hitting .447 (21-for-47) with six homers in 12 NLCS games against the Astros.
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