Archive for October, 2006

Busch Stadium: 10/27/06
Cardinals vs Tigers

Saturday, October 28th, 2006

Jeff Weaver pitched the game of his life in game 5 allowing 1 ER in 8 innings on 4 hits with 9 strikeouts. David Eckstein led the way for the Cardinals with 2 hits and 2 RBIs all coming by way of well-placed infield grounders. Yadier Molina was 3 for 4 (.412 avg for the series) with 2 runs scored. Adam Wainwright got the final 3 outs including a strikeout to cap the Cardinals 10th World Series title.

Outside the stadium on the old pedestrian bridge before game 5 of the World Series Cardinal fans cheer as the players warm up View of the bleachers from the right field loge
Jeff Weaver struck out 4 of the first 5 men he faced Can you effing believe this shit? Runners are going on the 3-2 pitch
World Series MVP David Ecktein put the Cards on top in the 2nd Jeff Weaver and Scott Rolen The crowd can taste victory during the 7th inning stretch
Bleachers during the 7th-inning stretch Fans gather outside the stadium and on the parking garage roof View from left field upper deck
Fernando Rodney pitches to Jim Edmonds with runners on first and second Scott Rolen provided an insurance run singling in Eckstein in the 7th Adam Wainwright pitches the 9th
Tigers down to their last strike Adam Wainwright strikes out Inge to win the World Series Cardinals celebrate on the field
Everyone piles on Cardinal players celebrate as media rushes in Fireworks
Tens of thousands fans take it to the streets Fans celebrate in the street outside Busch Stadium Not a bad first season for the new ballpark

Busch Stadium: 10/25/06, 10/26/06
Cardinals vs Tigers

Friday, October 27th, 2006

After a washout on Wednesday night, game 4 finally got underway on Thursday night. Jeff Suppan fell behind early, but gutted out 6 innings while limiting the damage to 3 runs. The Cardinals got back in the game on some run scoring doubles from David Eckstein and Yadier Molina in the 3rd and 4th innings, then tied it at 3 in the 7th thanks to a slip by Tigers CF Curtis Granderson and a throwing error by reliever Fernando Rodney. Later in the 7th, Preston Wilson put the Cards on top with a 2-out RBI single but the Tigers equalized with a pair of doubles in the top of the 8th. With 2 outs in the 8th and a runner on 2nd, Eckstein came to the rescue again with a perfectly placed ball to the gap that was just out of Craig Monroe’s reach. Adam Wainwright slammed the door shut in the 9th and the Cardinals now stand 1 win shy of their 10th World Series title.

Rain delay Cards fans try to stay warm and dry in the lower level concourse View of covered field from behind home plate
Fans wait and wait some more Still raining and the Doppler radar doesn't look good If you leave, you can't come back
NLCS hero Jeff Suppan pitches for the Cardinals Albert Pujols' bat has been relatively quiet since his game 1 homer Andy Van Slyke stands at first base with Albert Pujols and Brandon Inge
Fernando Rodney makes John Rodriguez look silly View from dead center seconds before Curtis Granderson slipped trying to run down Eckstein's fly ball Eckstein scores to tie the game on the throwing error and the crowd goes nuts
Cardinal Nation senses the tide of the game is turning Adam Wainwright came in to close things out The Cardinals leave the field victorious, needing 1 more win

Busch Stadium: 10/24/06
Cardinals vs Tigers

Wednesday, October 25th, 2006

Chris Carpenter was awesome in his World Series debut pitching 8 shutout innings while throwing just 82 pitches. Jim Edmonds gave the Cardinals all the offense they needed with a 2-run double in the 4th. The Cards padded their lead in the 7th and 8th thanks to some costly fielding mistakes by the Tigers and cruised to a 5-0 win and a 2 games to 1 lead in the World Series.

Don't listen to these people, Vote YES for the stem cell initiative The Clydesdales make their rounds The ATF and their bomb sniffing dogs were out in full force
Fans awash in red wait in line to get in Fans wait in line before Game 3 of the World Series Fans gather outside the left field fence
View of bleachers from left field stairwell Fans stake out their standing room territory Ballpark Village now has a beach and water recreation area
Chris Carpenter warms up before game 3 of the World Series Chris Carpenter warms up in the bullpen before the game Jim Edmonds drives in 2 runs with a double in the 4th
Carpenter was in-form against the Tigers View of infield from behind home plate during the 7th inning stretch Carpenter squares to bunt in the bottom of the 8th

Busch Stadium: 10/17/06
Cardinals vs Mets

Thursday, October 19th, 2006

Jeff Weaver pitched 6 strong innings for the Cardinals allowing just 2 runs. Tom Glavine looked sharp early for the Mets, but a 4th inning solo by Pujols got the Cardinals bats going and Glavine was out of the game by the 5th trailing 3-2. Chris Duncan provided an insurance run with a pinch-hit solo shot in the 6th. Adam Wainwright got the final 4 outs to give the Cards a 3-2 series lead heading back to Shea.

Old pedestrian bridge in front of new Busch Stadium Problems with 1st base in the 4th inning Pujols and Belliard playing deep on the right side of the infield
Jeff Weaver stares down the batter's box Pujols homers in the 4th This was by far the best crowd of the postseason
The Cardinals chased Glavine in the 5th Adam Wainwright strikes out Jose Reyes for the final out A happy crowd files out of Busch Stadium

Busch Stadium: 10/14/06
Cardinals vs Mets

Sunday, October 15th, 2006

The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead on another clutch Spiezio triple. Mets starter Steve Trachsel was pulled with the bases loaded nobody out in the 2nd with the score already 3-0. Cardinals starter Jeff Suppan led off the 2nd with a solo HR and tossed 8 shutout innings. The Cardinals now lead the best of 7 series 2 games to 1.

Old pedestrian bridge in front of new Busch Stadium Left field upper deck before the game The Arch at sunset
Right field upper decks and standing room areas Ernie Hays jams on the keyboard while the ALCS plays on the video board View of the bleachers and scoreboard from the right field loge
Albert Pujols and Carlos Beltran stand at first Steve Trachsel gets yanked in the 2nd Preston Wilson is congratulated after nailing Jose Valentin at 2nd
Suppan kept putting zeroes on the board Enough with the God Bless America already Josh Kinney came in and completed the shutout