2004 NLCS (Astros @ Cardinals) Game 2

painting the town red in st. Louis Missouri anticipating Game two of this National League Championship Series the hometown Cardinals coming away with a 10-7 opening game win here last night there has been a steady drizzle of rain all day today in st. Louis temperatures expected to slip down into the high 30s the start time tonight has already been delayed the grounds crew very hard at work right now trying to prepare this field for Game two of the NLCS you're watching playoff baseball on Fox [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] welcome inside of blocks Network senator Jeannie Zelasko along with Kevin Kennedy a someone actually found a way to slow down the Cardinals and the Astros lineup Mother Nature Game two of the NLCS is in your future just not your immediate future because of wet weather here's Chris Myers haiya thanks Jeannie standing just near home plate here on the field at st. Louis it's just a drizzle with senior vice president of baseball operations Sandy Alderson we helped me understand I think it's good to see again and we're gonna play ball tonight or not it looks like we've got a cell of whether that's stationary over st. Louis now and we may have a little rain up until maybe even as late as 9 or 10 o'clock but we're gonna try to get the game started even with a little bit of rain and hope that everything clears out so we have an official start time we're gonna try to get started around 7:45 local time here sorry 7:45 Central 8:45 Eastern time and the infield looks pretty good the grounds crew had it covered outfielders some spots you'll do an inspection with the umpiring crew yeah the field should be in very good shape and you know we wouldn't start the game any sort of weather if we didn't think the field could handle it and that we you know we could avoid in most cases any sort of stoppage so you know we're confident that by 9 10 o'clock this thing will all be cleared out and we'll be well into the game I know that you flew in just moments ago I was here earlier Bob Watson who's vice president of on field operations met with the grounds crew walked around and said hey if it doesn't get worse and we'll be able to play ball tonight it should move through yeah well right now it's it's a little more stationary than is typical here in st. Louis but you know it's it's not coming down too hard and we expect that it'll clear out before the end of the game so started no again no curfew here and an official game after a certain amount of innings that doesn't change in the postseason doesn't change in the postseason but once we get this game started we're looking to complete a full nine innings or until we get a decision all right well thanks pretty much for your time okay all right thanks for only umbrella 2gd back to you thank you Chris trying to stay dry and how does this change the tenor of this series especially if you look at that Cardinal lineup Scott Rolen finally got his first hit of the postseason last night having a calf problem it is still inflamed we could go down the line of Tony walnut got hurt towards the end of the season what do you do as a manager do you adjust anybody with leg injuries you concern yourself with no question the home field manager obviously telling the truth so they know there feel better than anybody and if it's a dangerous situation obviously with a guy like Scott Rolen but he's been playing so I think I don't think it's gonna affect Scott so I think it's gonna actually benefit the Astros should this game get rain down but being in st. Louis and doing games are gonna play tonight I mean this is just stuff flows through but Pete Monroe is not pitched in two weeks I think for the Astros if they could not have to pitch Pete Monroe nothing against him but let's face it he has a pitch six October the first he's not really in the main guy in their rotation you could see your talk about the opportunity you'll get Roger Clemens that's exactly right because if they may have a makeup game tomorrow on the so called off there or that's what they probably have to do be a Clemens normal day so I think you would skip but Clemens right in the rotation there so but you know mother nature take its course I'm not going to try and fluence anything just to what you know there's spots out there you gotta watch out for the it's dangerous out there but San do these guys know what they're doing and they're not gonna put anybody out there to injure somebody and then have him come out of the game the other guy for the cars you got to worry about Larry walkers have leg problems historically so you'll want him on a wet field slipping pulling a hamstring and then being out for the rest to play ball it is a house of card so of course the deck is stacked but for both sides Houston already had the killer bees' they needed Beltran the Cardinals are just hitters their health hazards and they needed Walker wedged him to the top of the order because really there was no place else to put them it certainly has changed the order of things Kevin you know you're absolutely right you know talking about Larry Walker and Carlos Beltran these guys were five tool players with her ball clubs are the best hitters on their old ball clubs arguably now they're great number two hitters and very dangerous and both guys are doing the job out of sight that's an understatement yes his knew they were getting a five-tool player in Carlos Beltran and he was traded from Kansas City but they certainly couldn't expected him to set a divisional series record with four home runs against the Braves oh yeah last night just for good measure killer beat indeed for the card Larry Walker was a three-time batting champ with the Rockies but he was always supposed to be a compliment to an already potent liner well during these playoffs walk that has not so quietly hit 400 while leading st. Louis and total bases kits and runs scored so in this NLCS expect to see even more for the number two spot in both of these great liners the Astor's and Cardinals are counting on in a national spotlight for the first time how much value in the offseason now there's Carlos Beltran have look at what he's done in the offseason this postseason I should say five home runs incredible to get this out your ball club right here and Larry Walker getting a 400 couple of home runs and both guys in the number two spot you'd ever see a five-tool player like that in the tooth but these guys are three hitters but both these clubs are so deep in offense and we also have another number two hitter that you never see in the two spot Alex Rodriguez the New York super star players hit in the tooth but that's how powerful all these lineups were talking about on Fox Network Center if you are just joining us first pitch has been delayed in st. Louis because of weather but they're getting ready to play we'll go there and I'll Thom Brenneman boys have won Jamie thank you very much it has been a very rainy day here in st. Louis Missouri all day long and as you mentioned this game delayed tonight by some 45 minutes and we're hoping to get it started at quarter till the hour Steve let's start with the Astros the game one losers here last night ten seven tonight they start Peter Monroe the first two pitchers in this series for Houston have combined to win a total of nine games this entire year think about it for Monroe I mean in June first he was pitching in triple-a for the twins organization now he's gonna make his first postseason appearance in this game but I think if you're the Astros you have to remember the fact you are the hottest team in baseball right now so you lost a game last night you got to get back on that horse and ride it again during this entire postseason the Astros have won lost one loss one lost we'll see how it goes here tonight Bob for st. Louis you're out to a 100 lead you know that Roger Clemens and Roy Oswalt will get the ball for Houston in games 3 & 4 when we go to Houston on Saturday Matt Morris tonight he's been down this road before indeed he has it has to be reassuring for the veterans on this Cardinals team to play behind Matt Morris he hasn't had a lot of success in League Championship Series play in the past but this is a different Cardinal team behind him and I think their approach tonight is gonna be just like it has been all year if you throw it we're gonna hit it for more on our game coming up tonight let's send it down on the field to Chris Myers all right actually thanks Tom near the Cardinal dugout and with woody Williams last night's a winning pitcher nice to see and congratulations on that thank you thank you how about a thought on the weather conditions and from from a pitcher standpoint obviously you know this mound and that's what Major League Baseball was concerned about and the grounds crew making sure it was it was in shape for pitchers to really present and do their job well Billy family does a great job our head grounds crew here and obviously safety is the number one priority but they do a great job here and I think once the drizzling stops that everything's gonna be good to go yeah our mindset starting a game and rain like this despite drizzle even with the hope that it may dissipate as as the game goes on as a pitcher I really like pitching in this kind of stuff because no one really feels that comfortable and I believe it gives the pitchers an edge about that Morris I think you'll be ready to go alright and what what is the pitchers or it actually the team's mindset when you're in second game of a National League Championship Series you know you're gonna go but you weren't sure at the start time because of the rain just gonna stay focused and be ready to push and then be ready to play the game you know they're gonna come out fight and just like they did yesterday they go off to a big lead early on and you know hopefully that won't happen tonight right and Bob Brenly wanted to make sure that I mentioned your your double last night which you know help get the rally go and get you back into a tie talked about that that great hitting effort though Bob now it's lucky real lucky first hit I've had in a couple of months but appreciate you you with the concern and the knowledge of that but you know it is fun for me and something I enjoy part of the game but you know anytime I can get a hit or or run or something like that it definitely helps me along well and Tony LaRussa told us he thought of anybody had the advantage from these teams being so familiar with each other that hitters have the edge because they'd seen pitchers so often obviously the Astros even at losing effort put up put up some offensive numbers are we in for that kind of series a lot of scoring we might be they have a great lineup you can't can't take anybody light over there before you know other two or three runs on the board or six like we did last night they're very capable and they have a lot of fight all right thanks again on the game one win and let's go back to Jeanne Zelasko mr. Vizio just making sure that he could still see his breath in the reactors - indeed a breath they have of a potent st. Louis and Houston lineups a little bit of rain let's talk about the guys responsible for shutting those lineups down tonight he's been watching josé Lima and I'll be s game three tape why is that cool because deep and Rose is a sinker slider type guy and has a changeup he's been working on that's what Lima throws a great changeup he's gonna have to go off-speed against a great Cardinal line I'm not pitched since October the second Matt Morris says great stuff pitched ok gets the job done I would like to sit so the curveball a little bit more because when he throws that curveball he is devastate he's got a good fastball in 90 but when he has a hammer 12 to 6 on the curveball he could be lights out I didn't think he is it as much against the Dodgers and I said I thought he might but this guy is much better at home Pete Monroe fastball in the low 90s high 80s little slider ground ball pitcher here's the off-speed I'm talking about that's a pitch he's got to have tonight and what are you mentioned josé Lima that's because Peter enroll is not a Roger Clemens not a 95 fastball guy he sinks it he slides up if he's got the change-up he's been working on behind the count that's what you have to throw against his tough tough Cardinal lineup if he's got that got a chance to go deep but the problem he has a pitch and sucked over the first so don't expect him to go deep in this game and for Phil garner he's gotta use that bullpen has not done the job except for Brad Lidge and unfortunately they have not gone deep in the game as far as the starters so you can't wait for Roger Clemens in his next start you can't wait for overall you've got the evenness series up tonight if you're the Houston Astros and Matt Moore is feeling the same thing let's put them up put my ballclub up - yeah another pitcher not named Roger Clemens or Roy Oswalt in this one best one-two punch arguably in the National League but will it be too late when they get the big gun never too late in a point a seven-game series is the best-of-seven never too late even if they're down Oh - so what I said I feel good going back home to Houston with Clemens though as well - argument to the best as you said in baseball right now especially in the postseason - true aces I don't worry about that but you got to mix and match through the best you can't tonight to try to go back 1 1 guess what it's time it's time to Raymond it's the rain has stopped julian barbary but time to get you out to the ballgame server yeah I want you to bill the box I have nothing left to say but let's talk about the game the Astros a good team we're a great team we should win that the scouting report from one Cardinals arm st. Louis manager a little more conservatives come on we just need three more wins it's only one they like their chances for another though with Matt Morris on the mountain we're headed to st. Louis [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] it is a cold rainy night in st. Louis Missouri but a sellout crowd on hand at Busch Stadium for Game two of this National League Championship Series where the National League Central Division champions st. Louis Cardinals winners of a hundred five games during the regular year take on the wild-card entrant also from a nationally central the Houston Astros I get everybody on top Brennaman welcoming you as always to playoff baseball here on Fox the st. Louis Cardinals the highest scoring team in the National League during the regular year came as advertised in Game one the Cardinals found out ten runs and 12 hits in a game one 10 7 win but Steve Lyons I know you feel like as far as the Houston Astros are concerned even though it was a loss there are some positives they take away from the game one defeat and they really have to do that they did some things very well offensively they scored seven runs they hit four home runs in the ball game in everyone throughout their lineup is swinging the bat very well now having said that they also gave up 10 runs in last night's ballgame and tonight they send Pete Marra to the mound now he's making his first postseason appearance he hasn't pitched in two weeks and he has four wins on the season he's got four pitches that he can throw it for a strike but even as Tony LaRussa says none of those pitches are overpowering so he better be perfect so Monroe gets the ball tonight for Houston meanwhile Bob Brenly a familiar pitcher in the postseason you saw him a number of times during your managerial days in Arizona they're leaning on Matt Morrison game to Matt Moore CAC this step and Tony LaRussa told us downstairs earlier that if the Cardinals have a chance to win this series they need Matt Morris to pitch well if you think about it if the Astros can find a way to beat Morris and the Cardinals tonight they go home with the rocket and Royals the mounting games three and four with the chance to go up 3-1 in the series now certainly Jeff Suppan and Jason Marquis have something to say about that but a win tonight by Morris and the Cardinals will take a lot of pressure off the rest of the staff so we have it coming up shortly we've waited a while tonight through the rain in st. Louis but the big hitters are coming up again for both clubs tonight the Astros and the Cardinals indeed [Music] [Music] the Busch Stadium in st. Louis Matt Morris starter tonight and Game two of his National League Championship Series for the hometown Cardinals making his way back from the right-field bullpen the bun row meanwhile continues to throw it down in the Astros bullpen and baseball Franz it's time to grab a cold fresh Budweiser because it is finally after a 45-minute Brenden delay gametime Steve Lyons we look at the field conditions here tonight clearly the grounds crew has done a marvelous job preparing this field for tonight's game it has rained all day long from the time we got up very early this morning you play the infield you play the outfield the infield was covered all day that appears to be a great shape what about playing in the outfield tonight I always wondered about the game of baseball no one really cares about the outfielders now to remember there used to be turf on this field they replaced it with grass in 1996 and when they did that they put in one of the best under field drainage systems there is so the outfield does drain very well but to remember when they dumped the tarp they dumped that tarp all in all the water goes into the outfield grass out there work that's where the outfielders stand so they're gonna be standing in standing water out there it's not a lot of fun and the other factor is when you play baseball you forget that the summer goes past you and you get into the fall it's cold tonight this is one of the first cold nights that these guys have played in for a long long time bob brenly's strategically speaking is he umpires now assume their positions but strategically speaking whether you're talking about hitting the straight steel wedding game your pitching staff what concerns you the most in these type of conditions obviously injuries enter your mind the the wet surface the wet grass in the outfield I think more than anything else it's on the base coaches to be a little more aggressive if that ball goes through the infield gets into the world gasps Ruby very tough to get a grip and making rather than sending honor take the field the preparation of Game two of this NLCS oh look a distance line up under manager Phil garner Craig Biggio and Love Field Oh red-hot Carlos Beltran is in center Jeff Bagwell at first Lance Berkman in right field Jeff Kent at second base Morgan ensberg and there's Jose Vizcaino the shortstop Brad Ausmus bats eighth and does the catching for right-hander Peter Monroe and on the mound for st. Louis their ace in postseason series in years past he didn't start until Game three of the National League Division Series and he pitched well but lost to josé Lima batboy he's one of the aces of this staff no question about a 15 and 10 on the regular season with a 472 he had trouble with inconsistency all season long here's the scouting report got that hard heavy sinker so you can get a real sinking feeling out there if he's got that thing working he's got to work the bottom of the strike zone when he gets up he's very hittable and we got to check to see if he's got that good curveball with the good fight if he rolls that rolling curveball up there he can be in trouble and here's scooter to tell you what a good curveball looks like this gorgeous face they're tough your look-alike from this season our good pal scooter Bob your eyes lit up the last two nights when you've seen a scooter scooter I've heard that voice before I know that let's take a look at the Cardinals defensively one of the best offensive clubs in all the baseball that's brought to you by State Farm Frenzy Sanders Jim Edmonds and Larry Walker in the outfield Rolen Renteria Womack and bulls along the infield Morris and Matheny the battery the Cardinals the only club left in this cozy season yet to commit an error our broadcast is also available in Spanish by utilizing the si PIPA [Applause] the sellout a crowd is waiting time for Game two [Applause] preg Michiyo digging in Matt Morris the line in the pitch first pitch swinging bacio lifts a flyball into left centerfield Reggie Sanders his day [Applause] we had a chance to catch up with both managers before the game today Tony LaRussa again emphasizing something you touched upon a minute ago Bob the importance of a solid outing a winning outing from Matt Morris tonight and really for Matt Morris to keep his emotions in check he said occasionally he gets overly aggressive and comes out of his delivery his mechanics come apart a little bit that's when that curve ball starts to roll that's when he gets the sinker up in the zone I look for Mike Matheny to help keep Matt Morris on the beam out there tonight he homered last night that is six in this 2004 playoff run for the Astros one nothing Houston it's not that easy you sit up here almost speechless I mean this kid on a national stage is showing everybody what a powerful quick swing through the hitting zone we talked about it off air last night he short to the ball and long through the ball that's why he gets such great carry and those line drives just seem to never come down you know he's gonna get some World Series MVP votes even if they don't go you're not alive what an unbelievable postseason it has been for Beltran his Bagwell looks at a strike he leads all players in both leagues in home runs RBIs base hits and runs and a 464 bat again he just missed hitting two home runs in the game here last night now that one was a carbon copy of the one he hit last night that you know took out about six people in the right-field seats when it landed they might want to hand out hard hats have been invade part starting the day after tomorrow blow the bag well one ball in two strikes the six home runs already this postseason is tied for the third most in a single postseason by any player ever Bagwell hooks and found oh I thought it was interesting to talking to Phil garner today about belt Ronnie said we haven't really seen the best part of his game his speed on the basis when you hit nothing but home runs you don't really stop at first base very often but at some point in this postseason I'm sure we'll see Carlos Beltran get to showcase those legs - let's take nothing away from what he's doing but watch pitch location - and the pitches that he's getting hit great balance very short stride full pull out and watch as you watch Bagwell here the strike out to him and the location of that pitch not so good either he got away with one right there you can clearly see Matheny wanted that ball away and he left it in the middle of the plate now my point with with beltron is the fact that he is getting some good pitches to hit Matt Moore is victimized by the homerun ball the entire season he allowed 35 of them in his 32 starts he gave up a pair of home runs his only postseason start this year both of them off the bat of Sean Greene [Applause] workman stays alive he's had a good postseason as well in fact all of the killer bees have been wearing it out so far after really doing next to nothing there prior trips to the playoffs Vizio beltron Bagwell and Berkman of hit nearly 400 in this postseason with 10 home runs 26 batted in 19 days hits in just six games sandurz backing up on [Applause] missile - right Houston Cardinals come to bat last to the first hitting and like last night Carlos Beltran a home on in the top of the first to give the Astros he early lead Tony Womack looks at a strike Peter of Monroe the 29 year old right-hander making his first career postseason appearance here tonight the last pitched in a game his final start of the year on October the 1st against Colorado and didn't get through three inning he's got kind of a funky delivery books his ball behind his back before he throws it Bob you were talking about before the game almost a short armor there's a numbers we talked about the scouting report let you know what he's all about he's got to throw strikes early we asked Phil garner what's his best pitch and he said a strike he's gotta use all four of his pitches and stay down in the strike zone he's got to be able to locate all four of those pitches because if he doesn't he's going to get hurt 100 Mac and he takes a strike count you know one thing we did not talk about the conditions tonight because of the cold weather a lot of times pitchers have a real hard time getting a feel on the baseball when it's this cold [Applause] Tony LaRussa's to coming up in right field a home run shy of hitting for the cycle here last night [Music] Edmonson Center a directory of the shortstop Sanders Mike Matheny and Mike or had Matt bullets [Applause] Larry Walker was asked to compare the number two hitters in each lineup himself than Beltran and Walker said well he's younger faster and probably a lot better-looking what else he didn't know that sounds like Larry Walker [Music] Walker came over from Colorado this passive trade deadline was injured almost the entire first half of the season wound up hitting 17 home runs driving in 47 he had two home runs in Game one of the National League Division Series against the doctor and three hits here last night a bonus right to walk Munroe does not look very fast a home plate I think st. Louis doesn't care if they're down a run Womack may be off to the races Lepore throw by Monroe very quick feet however getting himself in position to make that pickoff throw but then he makes a bad throw that gets away from Bagwell bounces up into the stands Womack will advance to second base [Applause] tying run in scoring position nobody out here in the bottom of the first inning [Applause] taken outside - I [Applause] one of the other factors in this series no question about it there's about a million pounds of gold gloves in the st. Louis lineup and the defense so far in this series has been very shaky for Houston [Music] - n1 - Larry Walker this good off-speed pitch there from Monroe Monroe did not get a start against the Cardinals during the regular year he made 19 of them overall he only made one appearance against st. Louis and that's after he was picked up after starting the year the Minnesota Twins organization sign with the Astros pitch one inning a scoreless inning in relief to the four with a full count here on Larry Walker look for him to try to hook that ball to the right side of the field Tony LaRussa both days of this series has talked about how good the Cardinals are at playing the game playing small ball if necessary of course we know they can play big ball as well but look for Walker to hook the ball to the right side right here 3 2 pitch and he does roll over it foul we talked about the defensive miscues last night by the Astros in the very first inning the live drive by Larry Walker that was lost in the lights by Berkman they sported in Tripoli then in the six run sixth inning the ball that was going foul picked up the only time played on Renteria and then a base ship flowing here by this guy you know and Walker gone on strike a big first out here in the opening inning for Monroe [Applause] let's cover the brought to you by State Farm Vizio beltron Berkman in the outfield and Spurgin Bagwell on the corners this guy you know and chef can up the middle with a battery of mud roll and Ausmus there was some talk to perhaps Kemp would be unable to go tonight already have the interest put the bow leaf out off that front left foot in the final game of the division series against Atlanta and then a foul ball off the same foot last night albert fools down asteroid blow it away one and one Poole's answered the home run by Beltran and the opening inning here last night Carlos a to lunch shot to right field and pulls a 2-run shot to the opposite fee Kenna felt like there was a little one-upsmanship going on between Beltran and bull holes and the two pitchers after backe hit a ball foul off the upper facing then woody Williams had a double and writes him will bend a foul last night the homerun by blue holes last night hits a right [Applause] fools another monster regular-season he was a 331 batter 46 home runs and 123 runs batted in he was the fourth best hitter in the league during the regular season with runners in scoring position - atchoo he's so cool he has a glove that matches his old way uniform that's a nice book we got a huge that closet [Music] Vizio still playing with a second basement Smith at least it's not a catcher's mitt good point damn I don't know that I've seen a bigger glove than left called spell translate using out there it's like he's playing 16-inch softball or something and using the glove that you're not even supposed to use that thing do you remember several years ago the umpires were given a directive to start measuring the gloves in spring training time to break out the yardstick on that thing Albert Pujols has become one of the premier players some might argue if you had to start a franchise today and had to pick one player in baseball today to start your club this would be the guy you take only 24 years young and getting back to second his wool back to away in the inning we must have had a dozen broken bats in the game here last night it's not like they're just breaking I talked to Jimmy Evans about that before the game these bats are shattering Edmonds told me he does I break about three bats a year and when I break them all they do is crack he said we're seeing guys and their bats are literally exploding [Music] [Applause] broken bats last night and a lot of them turn into big basins especially in at 60% [Music] strike one to Scott Rolen Womack the game the bottom of the first inning with a single into left centerfield went to second on a throwing here but since ed Monroe is sent down Walker and Poole Rolen picked a fine time to get his first hit in the postseason it came in the fifth inning last night and tied the game before but roll will travel it's bounced around the Blue Jays organization the Texas Rangers the Astros left to go to Minnesota brought back to the Houston organization this year most of his 10-year career has been spent in the minor-league Wonder Woman they're gonna look originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox and Pete grew up a Yankee fan then traded to Toronto moved on to Texas we told you used it twice Minnesota sandwiched in between [Applause] [Music] jam shot fly ball in a short white center field and you're not gonna drop it with that big bit chef Kent will lead it off in the second Houston a one-nothing lead [Music] Houston coming up top half of the second inning Game two of his National League Championship Series the Cardinals ten seven winners here last night and Matt Morris the first pitch breaking ball swung on and missed by Kent 27 home runs a hundred seven runs batted in during the regular season for Kent only 6 of 26 in the postseason feel line gonna bounce off the railing down there and go into short left field and Kent won't have to run hard he'll pull up with it easy double let's check in with Chris Myers all right time the temperature has dropped significantly in the hour it's in the 40s now here on the field a steady misting rain we've had all day has spiked up a touch but it's still coming down now Reggie Sanders told me in left-field that you won't see the guys go on a full stride on a fly ball they have to keep their feet directly under them for balance because that is where the soft spots are in the outfield some of the slick spots and the way these hitters are driving the ball it says something to keep an eye on Chris thank you very much a pleasure to have Chris Meyers with us during this National League Championship Series well he was a busy man before the game as weird Jeanne Zelasko and Kevin Kennedy filling about 45 minutes leading up to our first pitch here tonight strike one to Morgan ensberg you may have noticed Jeff Kent had that protective ankle guard on the left foot he's about 24 hours later and he wishes you had had it on last night saw that inside-out swing by ensberg even though they ran the pitch in on him he was trying to shoot it to the right side Jeff Kent always been a dead pull hitter hooks that ball just inside the bag at third-base and even with a bad wheel he's gonna get second base on that one Walker failed to advance a runner at second base with nobody out in the bottom of the first inning let's see if ensberg can get it done here in the second trying to bury him in on his hand so he can't push it that way tonight from that board [Applause] whereas you said after pounding him inside early in the Advanta good breaking pitch off the outside corner ensberg anticipating a pitch inside once again takes a very defensive swing and can't come up with it fundamentally in this game though on both sides we've seen guys fail to move runners over from second to third a ball foul tip by Jose this guy you know and that is the best pitch for Matt Morris we're looking for the bite on the breaking ball do we have it I'd say that's a big 12 to 6 are right there he threw this guy you know another one they pops it up in his short left field and Renteria out there together Oh leadoff double by Kent ensberg and bisque I you know shutting down and that'll bring up a number eight here to the capture of Brad Ausmus [Music] Morris has been solid for the st. Louis Cardinals since coming all the way back from arm surgery only the great Randy Johnson and Atlanta right-hander Russ Ortiz have won more games among national league pitchers since at 2001 season [Music] goal one away - awesome Ausmus one of the few collegiate players that get drafted who actually went back and got his degree from Dartmouth actually spent time at spring training faxing his assignments back to school - a little Ausmus is the active leader in career RBIs among Ivy Leaguers they're gonna go ahead and intentionally walk cause I know he takes a whole lot more heat for being named the cutest Astro by a local magazine he'll try dog down to first base and here comes Monroe who had just two hits in 29 at-bats one run batted in during the regular season but sometimes you can tell if a pitcher is a good hitter or not just by the way they wear their helmet and based upon that helmet on Monroe's head I'd say breaking ball he gets away from Matheny and advancing on to third as Kent some guys just look comfortable with the helmet on their head that doesn't even look like it fits it this isn't a pitcher really able to hit either look at Matheny though technically the only reason that that ball bounces away from him is there's just no way he could block it did everything is perfect well there's all the corners to away and a fastball is high to Monroe one and one we talked yesterday about the coaching that Metheny got said his best coach was when he was 10 years old but then he went on to college were bill free and was his coach there and then delt Rand also worked with him as well the University of Michigan up he's had some pretty good guys to talk to about the craft two balls in a strike tomorrow runners on the corners here the Astros second inning [Music] [Applause] digial hoping for a chance here in the second inning we usually a good hitters count but I don't think there's any way you can let Munroe swing right here who know we're close to the strike zone and walk to Ausmus five pitch walk to the pitcher mud row who had two hits the entire year you know I think that's the biggest fear too is what happens to is when you break your rhythm to throw the four pitches wide on an intentional walk it's very hard to get that rhythm back and a lot of times you'll see a guy walk the next guy [Music] so they are loaded for craig biggio a huge opportunity in the early going for the Astros they lost Game one here last night 10 7 they got the solo home unto the opening inning tonight by Beltran and now a chance to cash in Morris will work out of his regular wind-up where he has been a far more effective pitcher this season than pitching with runners on base it is staggering the difference this season for Boris when runners are on as opposed to pitching when the bases are empty a 56 point batting average differential he allowed 24 of his 35 home runs when runners were on base very uncharacteristic it's not unusual for a good pitcher like Matt Morris to give up a lot of home runs Curt Schilling gave up a lot of home runs catfish hunter gives up a gave up a lot of home runs but 24 with runners on base that's very very unusual for that like bad boys hey he's just not that comfortable out of the stretch opposing batters it's real want against him bouncing ball up the middle hill [Applause] [Music] Peter Monroe takes the ball bottom half of the second inning Game two of his National League Championship Series Matt Morris allowed a first inning home run to Carlos Beltran then got Craig Biggio on the ground ball leaving the bases loaded in the second [Applause] jim edmonds to lead things off drives it to straightaways the track both ponds got it one pitch in one out hi everyone Salaam Pete Montreux will throw a sinking fastball up there and scooters going to tell you exactly and show business it is for one to Edgar rentería will a moment ago the left field umpire they add two umpires as you know for the postseason but Ed Rapuano just had to leave the playing field so we are now playing with five umpire for a game two of his National League Championship Series certainly hope that Eddie's alright it is chilly here tonight in fact we're told this is the coldest postseason game since Game four of the 1997 World Series in Cleveland Ohio it was a chilly 38 degrees temperatures expected to get down close to that as we move on further into the night in st. Louis they even sell red rain ponchos here that's unbelievable three and two on Renteria [Applause] his counterpart to away will throughout the LCS we're going to identify a key matchup in the game and determine who holds the DirecTV advantage starting pitching in this postseason now starters have fair houston starters have been better primarily due to backe in the division series along with Clemens and Oswalt Tony LaRussa thought backe threw the ball very very well here last night as he did once he settled down and got that curveball working was impressive ran out of gas three days rest over 90 pitches you could read between the lines as you look at the heaters and both dugouts those players that are out on the playing field those in a lineup with the one staying closest to it rather at Kent and Monroe a one-two-three second inning leading off the third the Elektra by Carlos Beltran six seasonal part of the order coming up against Matt Morris in the Houston third inning the Astros on a Carlos Beltran home run in the opening inning with a one nothing lead fastball away beltron at 38 home runs during the regular season stole 42 bases and became the first player ever in baseball to drive in 50 or more runs in each league in the same year he began the year in Kansas City not only did he steal 42 bases he was only caught three times going his six home runs already its third in a single postseason all time behind who else Barry Bonds who hit eight in 2002 enjoy boss who hits em we talked about him early in the year as the new premier 4040 type player 2 game was very few of those guys around [Applause] still 28 straight phases with Houston and has not been caught yet the only another player to ever steal 20 or more bases without being caught is a guy that you'd never guess in a million years with the Mets [Applause] come on give me an answer McReynolds I heard it yes bad it was oh sure you did give me a break let's check him with Chris Mayer Tom Carlos beltrán was injured his ribs in the divisional playoff series I talked it before they gave me City it only bothers him when he bats right-handed he wears a I feet back about an hour before the game and Gary guy yet even the hitting coach for the Astra said if you want to see a guy who has the speed of willie wilson on the base path on the power of Barry Bonds you're looking at him in Carlos Beltran well he has a huge lead in a quick pitch that time by Morris on the first pitch to Bagwell is down low for ball one that's the best way to defend against the stolen base change our delivery to home plate hold the ball one time slide step couple throws over to first base you got to give him a lot of different looks better not forget about Bagwell at the plate though Bagwell struck out his first time on breaking ball in the dirt gets away from batini and beltron Sprint's to second base great instincts watch the secondary lead and how quickly beltron recognizes the ball kicking away and you can forget about him right now great angle of that look how quickly he's off to the races Morris all over the place here in the early going he's walked Ruiz thrown two wild pitches that ball hammered on a two old camp foul 2 & 1 the bag will Bob you brought it up earlier and it certainly bears repeating you can read between the lines almost in our conversation with Tony LaRussa before the game and how emphatic he was in a very quiet way about how important Matt Morris is in this series if the Cardinals are going to advance to the World Series and you just do the math and you figure out hey it's no guarantee that Roger Clemens is going to win a Toyota is going to win but certainly they're the two best pitchers in the Houston rotation two of the best in all the baseball they're pitching in the next two games Morris would pitch again if the series goes six games here [Applause] [Music] so in other words Tony saying hey you know we need to get the win here tonight to go up to Oh visit it goes one and we face Clemens and Oswalt the next time Boris sees of game it might be three two in favor of Houston [Applause] defensive swing there and fouled it away well if you look at the way their rotation sets up and if you want to call Chris Carpenter the ace of the staff this year now hurt and unavailable if you're down three two and you have to throw a guy out there it should be Matt Morris he is your ace now [Applause] there's a look at carpenter woody Williams last night's winner [Applause] 3 2 is outside before Morris has walked four of the last five Houston hitters one of them intentionally to on nobody out at Lance Berkman coming up the Astros to the game here last night apartment a to on over [Applause] tantor a king but Berkman's 30 home runs during the regular season only four came from the right side of the plate but showed a very good quick swing on that ball [Music] fastball strike one on the outside corner to Berkman right now for me in this lineup outside of Beltran who's just ridiculous right now how locked in he is I think Berkman is the next hottest guy on this team as far as how locked-in is at the plate would scare me right now down to base level off the end of the bat into short centerfield this could be trouble Edmonds coming in [Applause] so now with one out in the inning a good base dealer at second base Jeff Bagwell runs very well at first Jeff Kent grounded into 23 double plays during the regular season look for belt trying to work for a lead out there at second base and if he feels he can get a jump I wouldn't be surprised to see him go so just to double-check on something with the infield being covered base stealers can still steal bases in these conditions right generally the footing is really good on the dirt part of the infield sliders strike one on the outside corner to Kent we've doubled down the third base line his first time up if there's one thing Phil garner did when he took over he made this team a much more aggressive team he put a personality on a team that was very dull in the past not so much in the base-stealing area per se but just being aggressive on the bases period don't try to check it back welded first one out for Kent to low with a fastball now one thing that will work against Beltran working for his lead out there at second base because Jeff Kent is a dead pull hitter Tony Womack has cheated up the middle a little bit as much closer to the bag at second much harder to get a good lead breaking ball clouded foul by Kent Morris ahead one and two yet check it is batted made a funny sound coming off of baura so far every time checking Beltran at second base has one look to comes to the set position what's a belt on once if you continue to set up that pattern you can get a great - twice [Applause] two on one out breaking ball in the dirt smothered beautifully by Matheny two and two to Kim [Music] and grew up in Southern California played collegiately at Cal Berkeley and then on a trip to Austin Texas during okay [Music] it's kind of strange so you think if he was a pitcher maybe if you want to call it diamond homer or something like that Barbee Iran yeah start the runners here three two I would have to just given the fact that Jeff gets got the bad wheel hits into a lot of double plays [Applause] bottom half of the third inning Houston the one-nothing lead the Astros left the bases loaded in a scoreless second inning and run into a strike him out throw him out double play to end the third Metheny Morris and Womack coming up against Peter Monroe will allow to single the very first batter he faced tonight Tony Womack the throwing airs sent into second you thought here we go again Monroe has retired six in a row since [Music] let's go back to that play the double play that ended the third bears beltron at the bottom of your screen he's he's not running but Bagwell is at first base as 15 Womack and runners because because there was nobody covering first-base seemeth Edie's reaction yeah Jeff Bagwell was able to change speeds to change directions rather just a little bit quicker he may have been able to get back to first base because there was nobody there [Music] boys undoubtedly will be up there to advance a runner with a bomb [Music] filled it drag him out Boris gets a job play hit the pros by the all-new GMC Canyon and face real pitches from today's best hurlers log on to foxsports.com keyword games we are professional brain there's a blast from the past of cars [Applause] Reiko case where you think he is right now hanging out with Paulina Porizkova which isn't a bad thing tying run at second base a one-nothing Houston to leave bottom half of the third inning here's Womack who singled into left-center field his first time up and a breaking ball is strike one I thought it was interesting this afternoon Tony LaRussa we were talking about all the thunder and the power in this Cardinals lineup and he said what this team can do is they can score one they can stop one we saw them stop the Astros in the top half of the inning and now they're trying to score one the home runs are a nice bonus they're going to come when they come but you have to take advantage of your opportunities to score one at a time to offer it Kent it's a second out of the inning for the CD advancing on to third [Applause] Tony Womack talking to himself a little bit on the lay back he does not like to pull the ball talk to him about that a couple of days ago he said only when I have to they're burying me inside as you mentioned Bobby they used to just try to get him out by cooling high fast balls away and he'd served fly balls in the left field it's corrected that was driving the ball to left it does not like to pull the ball a Larry Walker go one down and in Walker struck out swinging one a 3-2 pitch his first time up well Larry Walker known for his power among other things but I've seen Larry Walker drop down a bunt in this situation you can see Morgan ensberg is honoring that but he's not playing as deep as he normally would Cardinals have been sensational with runners in scoring position and two men out in this postseason look at those numbers seven of the tongue seven of the ten runs scored last night came with two outs and thirteen of their first 16 in the division series against the Dodgers everybody talks about two out hitmen and what you can do in that situation and they have just been blistering you know in a game just littered and overloaded in statistics I think if you were to go to any manager or general manager and say give me one stat you want to be good at the most overlooked and maybe the most important what do you do with two men [Music] Walker in the rocking chair this at bat a sinker down low and away comes back with the off the body sinker on the inside corner Walker did not like Ciaran Cooper the whole plate umpire tonight she's given to chase a big curveball Walker landing two three one nothing Houston the League Championship Series on Fox is brought to you by Budweiser grab a cold fresh Budweiser hips games huh [Music] it is chilly gametime temperature in the mid 40s dropping rapidly a steady rain all day long in st. Louis Missouri the 96% humidity is not unusual for st. Louis teams are used to coming in here in the summertime and dealing with that kind of humidity along with the heat but where these temperatures are bitter cold they're still here yes they are [Music] Morgan ensberg leads off against Matt Morris in the fourth one nothing Houston on the first hitting solo home run by Carlos Beltran found out a play by ensberg 275 battered during the regular year 1001 66 knocked in seven of 24 in the postseason a lot of people have talked about the lack of homerun production out of ensberg after last season hit 25 homes that one in the air did he get enough of it Sanders looks up yes he did [Applause] all runs tonight by the Astros after clubbing four in a game one loss last night two nothing Houston [Applause] he got some good backspin lifts on that I talked to ensberg a couple of days ago about the power production watch down through the ball and the good backspin lift on that he said he had an elbow problem for most of the season and then when he started swinging the bat better he couldn't get the ball up in the air he was hitting hard line drives that wouldn't get more than 10 feet off the ground that one did now go save this guy you know Ricky Bahl whoa stop it Sanders looks up Jesse çb looking around us like Groundhog Day there for a minute what served in left-center field that ball will fall Sanders over to try and cut it off and this guy you know aggressively turn they solicit made by Reggie's head [Applause] visca Anna came around first base thinking - all the way and what a tremendous thrall by Sanders right on the button very dangerous Tony Womack has that snow cone up there you see the ball just about to come out of the webbing a hard slide by this guy you know might have dislodged that ball but what a tremendous play by Reggie Sanders to make that good a throw after losing his balance in left-center field Sanders is going away from the play this guy a no stink [Music] I do like the aggressive baserunning but so far for Houston it has not worked out well for them at all but I guarantee you Phil garner down in that third-base dugout is Patton Jose visca on two backs and that's worth giving it a try right there wet field ball hitting the gap outfielder going away from the throw to the time take a chance make them make a play Sanders made a play well I'll tell you what if Reggie Sanders had that to make that play ten more times he might be able to make up one more time that was beautiful [Applause] let's send it downstairs to Chris Myers Tom you mentioned umpire ed Rapuano earlier when he left the field he's in a room set up behind home plate below the stands for umpires receiving medical attention the initial report was dizziness he appears to be okay he has been speaking or at least in contact with family numbers Chris thank you very much and that certainly is most important for those in the rabo oh no extended family and friends wanting to make sure that it's all right they had one of the best umpires in the game has a lot of energy really enjoys his job and it's fun to play the game when Ed Rapuano is behind the plate on the ground at Tony Womack [Applause] in eddsworld two-nothing lead the big boys coming up for st. Louis solo home runs tonight from beltron and ensberg at two nothing Houston lead the Astros have scored nine run in the first game and four innings of this National League Championship Series and all nine runs have come via the long ball now they're poles to start things against Monroe face it Santa Fe go with the backdoor sinker there Monroe started that ball off the plate outside tried to tail it back over the outside corner tremendous plate coverage by Albert Pujols his guys had back up the middle of the field we saw that yesterday the home run that he hit was up and out of the strike zone away he doesn't have any problem going after that now will it have flied out to center field his first time up first pitch fastball at the knees strike one [Music] Munroe spent a lot of time before his start watching the josé Lima game that he pitched against these same Cardinals over and over and over again to see how he did so well we talked to Tony LaRussa about that Lima game before the game here tonight he said his dinners chased a lot of fast balls up in the strike zone thus a lot of fly balls for Lima in that game fly ball outs 1 & 2 on rollin so far we haven't seen Munro talking to himself we're doing an electric slide so barely he's not doing everything that josé Lima did against the car [Music] it's fun real-time one of the things that Tony cautioned about was the fact that he thought Pete Monroe comes in here with not the same type of credibility of the Roger Clemens / or Roy Oswalt would come and he thought maybe his team with the big bangers in that lineup would did a little overanxious wouldn't keep the ball in the middle of the field and so far maybe we're seeing a little bit of that swing and a Miss on a breaking ball down and away and Monroe has his third strikeout now beginning this weekend Oscar De La Hoya and the next great champ are bringing an all-new episode to their new home on FSN they contenders remain to see who has the heart and skill to be a champion the next great champ is now old Leon FSM Lola now one of 18 in the postseason and here's Edmonds who fly to center field his first time up [Music] we got a chance in between innings again to catch up with Houston pitching coach Jim Hickey will bring you his comments in a moment on I like what you said about Jim Hickey yesterday Tom he probably should be doing some TV work but but when you listen to them it's I love this guy you feel like it should be an FM DJ [Music] [Applause] you know you might have a career now like I sound more like scooter i sat in the clubhouse and talked to Jimmy Edmondson for about a half an hour today just about different stuff the rain his philosophy and hitting and I think there with my head spin there's a pitch up that Edmonds chases and fouls it away he said I hate it when people come in here and ask me questions about like today he goes are we gonna play two days and I don't know you know I've got a meteorologist he said I'm a simple guy I don't even know I don't even know when our next game is so they tell me where to go I show up and when the bell rings I play hard let's go that's all you ask of the play nice block right there by Ausmus preventing pools from getting a disc or a position where that's a great block when a pitch hits this far out in front of home plate as a catcher you're never quite sure where it's going to go you can see you had to slide over behind that left handed batter's box and looked like it hit him on the inside of the throwing arm just get up body part in front of it try to keep that ball in front so that runner can advance well we have the last four Gold Glove winners at the catching position internationally in this serie a pair for Ausmus two for Matheny [Applause] as Kemp fires back into the play a double by Evans all up in the strike zone Edmonds dismissed one earlier in the count this time he's able to get the head of the bat on it and hook it down that right-field line Edmonds is a great highball hitter for a lefty you very rarely see a left-handed hitter be able to handle a ball up in the zone he loves it up there [Applause] the Cardinals with a pair of owners till this year in their best what [Music] we're his pitch swinging a fly ball that bends foul without a play [Applause] [Music] goes over five [Applause] in these situations tonight [Applause] [Applause] give it a look at Edgar rentería is like a just a shortstop [Applause] just jam [Applause] he broke our there down the line after Kent popped that ball and sort of dropped his head to the ground and began to walk it yet flirtations air was spread to the plate and catching him off guard [Applause] talked about this before the ball game that this is one of the smartest teams he's ever had you see pools there anticipating you know the Jeff Kent maybe would forget about him over there tried to sneak down the line a little bit if Kent hit lobbed that ball back to the pitcher's mound pools might have tried to score [Applause] two on two out for Reggie Sanders who bounced out to Kent his first time up [Applause] off the inside corner ball one to Reggie Sanders [Applause] Cardinals now all for six with runners in scoring position tonight they delivered as they have done all season long in a big way in the opening game of this league championship series last night but now there's two outs where they really shine [Applause] the regular season against Monroe the two hits with both home runs are very good lowball hitter [Applause] last great location he has done a nice job of hitting the spots we said he'd have to be perfect tonight fastball away we got Ausmus frame it right on the corner give the umpire a great look at it tough pitch to hit [Applause] Arthur the time it's second date the chance to bust in on the hands or Reggie Sanders and then go out away off the plate with a breaking ball get up under his chin with one [Applause] they go away with a fastball to him on the Sanders [Music] two out last half of the floor [Applause] ground ball to short this guy - nothing Houston we're back after a break from your local Fox station we welcome you to Game two of the National League Championship Series on Fox sold-out Busch Stadium in st. Louis for some of you just joining us we had nearly a 40 minute rain delay before we got started here tonight so we opened just the top half of the fifth inning alongside Steve Lyons Bob Brenly Chris Myers in our entire Fox crew we're glad you're with us and Craig Biggio hooks one into left field a single to start the Astros fifth Matt Morris has been living rather dangerously the entire night and yet only two runs on the board for Houston [Music] do you think he's bunting I seriously doubt Beltran homered his first time up he walked in the third we talked about all the problems that Morris had during the season pitching with runners on base and more so that any other batter left in the postseason in either league this is Alaska if you have problems in that area that you want standing at the point good breaking ball thereby boy go into the belt Ron we castrate changeup right there 80 miles an hour started at the bottom of the strike zone had just bottomed out two bad swings we've seen from Beltran what's that there or so the same thing this is the tight curve ball down in the strike zone and boy 3 pretty quality pitches to belt round right there and had to five strikeouts tonight for Morris who has walked for one of them intentionally and given up the two ones on five base hits now back will he struck out in the first inning walk in the third [Music] very quiet crowd here at Busch Stadium tonight they haven't that much to get excited about roller foul we're reminded a Sunday JB Terry Howie and Jimmy hit the road at set up shop the podcast at number one Brigade show live from Foxborough all of the Patriots all that and more Sunday nudie Tsunade at Pacific Mall Tom Brady go ten yards with Terry Bradshaw this Sunday [Applause] go into the bag will we've seen a lot of grousing from the hitters so far in this ballgame Eric Cooper the home plate umpire and notoriously big strike zone and he is stay true to form Morris wondering where's that wide strike zone with that bit [Music] the breaking ball away off the outside part of the plate and down bag alone with that crouched stance it's hard to throw one too low for [Applause] but Bagwell had a tale of two seasons in the first and second half he was getting beat by fast balls all day long there was whisperings around Houston that maybe his bat had slowed way down and that he was done and he just made an adjustment well he has just had a marvelous career more than likely a Hall of Fame career when all is said and done 446 career home runs 28th all-time the Astros franchise leader home runs RBIs extra-base hits and walks he has just been an outstanding player in his 14 years in the big leagues water goes sleek get a foul ball back to the screen he said it was as simple as just getting that front foot up in the air a little bit quicker said basically I know I'm getting older my right shoulder has nothing left in it I have no strength in that shoulder anymore so I had to cheat a little bit I gotta get that front foot up and down quicker watch the front foot get it up get it back down and then get your swing going [Applause] because he saw that movement or spun around and threw over come out and argue with the first base umpire Gary darling they better not argue too much you can't argue a balk call stutter step with that font slug do that Morris started as delivery to home plate and then broke it down and picked over to first base if you can get away with that you pick everybody off [Music] but you cannot pick it up to go over and throw the first it's a heck of a boo Visia screaming as soon as he saw that happen that's a and everybody saw it breaking ball fouled a wig and my back will you showed the numbers for Bagwell's career possibly a Hall of Fame career but the thing that really jumps out when you look at his stats games play this guy plays a 150 or more games four seasons in his career he played every game 160 160 hundred fifty nine this guy answered the bell every day three and two again the bag will it's quiet back there by the Asheville's first baseman and he continues for Jeff Burton burr Lance Berkman he saw everything but the kitchen sink right there let's check out the pitch sequence of that entire at-bat first pitch fastball down and away swings out then a fastball away that gets called for a strike than the breaking ball off the plate fastball in breaking ball down again and baggles just spit on that stuff fouls off the fastball to stay alive and another one works the count doesn't like that one and we're on first base great at that five walks in the game now issued by Matt Boras then here come the Astros again Berkman a foul ball back to the screen he'll pop in the long run in this game you look at that at-bat by Bagwell and you look at what Morris did through a lot of pitches to him and was it you know ended up walking Bagwell but bottom line I mean you're talking about he was throwing some of his nastiest stuff and Bagwell just flat out how to grind it great at-bat and ended up walking and that's one of those walks that even though wars had to throw a lot of pitches back well rightfully so drew the walk it sets up a double play situation right here that's not necessarily a bad walk other than the fact that Bagwell made Morris work so hard yeah through a lot of pitches in that at-bat now he has to work to Berkman with a couple guys on [Music] Berkman is flied out twice once to left his last time to Center muscled over the glove of pools into right field Oh rounding third and he will score it is three nothing Houston on the run scoring signal by Lance Berkman well that was a very strange play there with the way pools went after that ball you cannot throw your gloves at the ball now I don't think this is intentional and I think that's what they'll look at you cannot throw your glove at the ball it's actually a two base penalty a two base error if you throw your glove to try to make attempt to catch it and I think they're ruling right there that he made an all-out effort to get to it and the boss and the gloves slipped off of his hand but Garner's going to come out and at least talk about it if I'm not mistaken there has to be contact made with the ball even if they felt boo holes was attempting to throw his glove at the ball very strange-looking play there the ball did hit the glove didn't it mom didn't tell what the first look no looked like he missed boy if you're talking about a to base error at that time that would mean Bagwell would score from second base Berkman moves up garner at least wanted to come out there and get a ruling on it read nothing Astros and Jeff Kent now the battery has doubled and struck out pitch in the dirt for ball one activity in the st. Louis bullpen for the first time tonight white and her Cal Eldred begins to throw maladjusted over the screen [Applause] I wouldn't make a living there if I Matt Morris it's one of those thinkers that didn't sink back with a fastball down it into can't two balls and a strike oh man Morris has done his best postseason pitching during division series of years gone by he has struggled and struggled finally in League Championship Series the only pitch 3 and 2/3 innings in that 2000 LCS against New York gave up three hits in two months and then in two starts against the Giants in 2002 got bagged around two losses in an ER a over six [Music] [Applause] popped up short left center Renteria to get to God [Applause] we remind you weeknights on FSN it's a greatest nightly sports show on television the best damn sports show period this week we talk the Patriots quarterback Taiwan Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Rolly fingers drop by to bring down the playoffs plus much more I told it on FSN one of your idols calling up Bob Brentley Johnny Bench you're watching a Big Red Machine found out a play by Morgan ensberg growing up a young catcher in Ohio he was a man ensberg joined the homerun parade here at this LCS with a rocket shot the left field of his own white base hit a moment ago by berkland is the first run Houston has scored in the first two games of this series it didn't come [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] Phil garner when he took over this team said he heard about the fact that ensberg hit 25 homers last year and only 10 this year 3 in the first half he said he's done the job for me and for event like 3:30 in his last 30 games anyway flyball right centerfield playable for Jim Evans used in a three nothing lead in Game two of the see ya Peter Monroe now with a three nothing lead as we go to the bottom half of the fifth inning eight nine and one in the st. Louis batting order Metheny a pinch-hitter for Matt Morris and then we roll over to Tony Womack [Music] strike one on the outside corner Matheny signal to center field his first time up Phil garner has to be so pleased granted were just through four innings as far as Monroe is concerned but Neary a run allowed thus far [Music] got in on bikinis hands here he bounces it foul one ball two strikes [Music] [Music] just off the corner with Monroe Abby won four games this year following Brandon backe last night four games one and two of this series the Astros have established a new record for fewest combined wins by Game one and two starters in an LCS gone swinging is pathetic let's check in with Jeanne Zelasko from Los Angeles Rio named after the tough guy Charles Bronson will get a chance to prove his mettle because he it is all up to him as the ALCS hits to Fenway the game 3 tomorrow night on Fox Arroyo sleeps peacefully tonight because it Sox have one for the starts first of the Yankees he'll face Kevin Brown 8 Eastern 5 Pacific tomorrow night on Fox Jeannie thank you very much while in Anderson the now bad format for us who allows three months and five it was able to pitch in and out of a lot more damage than just three ones here tonight [Applause] activity for the first time Harville the right-hander Gallo the left-hander for a Phil garner for that middle relief that's not pitch well I know Phil garner got a little testy about the questions about chad Qualls last night giving up the six runs and all the broken bats and balls it didn't get out of the infield the bottom line is he scored six runs so he could continue to tell us and anybody he wants to tell that his relievers have thrown the ball well in the postseason their collective er a outside of Brad Lidge is over ten it is full season they have not pitched well at six run six the only hard-hit ball was the double by Edmonds with the bases loaded but as you said Tom I don't care how I get him just give them to me Marlon Anderson a moment ago Steve had a chance to catch up with Jim Hickey the Houston pitching coach and asked about his picture Peter Monroe hey Jim thanks for joining us it looks like Pete Monroe as the game goes on is developing more and more confidence well we have our cold weather battery going tonight diesel time at some Queens and Brad Ausmus from Connecticut so you don't think the weather is that big of a factor in terms of the temperature and their precipitation if the mound starts getting a little bit sloppy that could be a factor certainly scoring a couple runs early will help Monroe settle in out there as you said it looks like he's settling in and with the offense he's got behind him Matt's got to help a pitcher going out there to the mountains Whalen anytime you get some runs it always makes it a little bit easier on you you know we've we've been through this now for about the last 45 days or so and it seems like it's somebody different coming through all the time but it's really been a big boost especially to the starting pitching that they can relax a little bit Jim thank you for your time thank you first walk issued tonight by Monroe it comes with one out here in the Cardinal fifth and out of top of the order Tony Womack one of two in the game I was waiting for the pinch it Luther Vandross or something I love the guys blitz as good as Monroe has been up to this point with a three to nothing lead here in the fifth inning pitch count very reasonable just around the 70 mark they had to wait for Kent to get two seconds and it cost him turned into clean weather cut down to away in the inning tonight's Budweiser fantasy player is Larry Walker a whole bunch of hitting for the cycle last night log on to foxsports.com keyword fantasy baseball tonight's game is brought to you by Budweiser grab a cold fresh Budweiser it's game time just to finish that thought as good as he's been to this point as pitch count is very reasonable as he went out to take the mound to start this inning Phil garner had some activity down there in the bullpen just in case Womack goes and no throw down to second base Womack got a good jump and it appeared as though Ausmus did not get a good grip [Applause] this stolen base is all off of Monroe right there great jump gone Ausmus stick it in your back pocket great view of the jump right there then Austin's just said Weiss roller can't get him [Applause] third stolen base in this postseason for Tony Womack who stole 26 during the regular year one row struck out Walker twice tonight swinging in the first looking in the third [Applause] [Music] barely cleared the fence [Applause] to go out and hook the ball light field and still get good backspin on it the seats like that [Applause] [Music] does a great job of that [Applause] going down getting the bat head out front lifting the ball up from your knees and powering it right out of the park [Applause] - this postseason we mentioned earlier came in Game one of the division series Bulls looking to tie it with one swing and about on his 3-1 pitch [Applause] this is precisely where he came in contact we'll make a pitching change here in the fifth [Applause] we'll be back [Applause] a tool on home run near the Cardinal 5th inning by Larry Walker Albert pulls singles into center field the night is over for Peter Monroe now taking over Chad Harvell [Applause] Saamy two things jumping out at me at this inning [Applause] play ball that they failed to turn that would have got them out of the inning and number two once again as the Cardinals have done all postseason scoring both runs with two outs [Applause] the only walk all night long tonight by Monroe a one-out walk here in this city to the pinch-hitter Marlon Anderson [Applause] but he pitched well here tonight guess he did it's only 4 and 2/3 inning to this Astros team [Applause] like a hand breaking ball not too bad of a hangar down around the knee went down and got it tipper with almost the same location as the face hit he got the I'd fall down and in this time a curveball [Applause] tonight about the fact that [Applause] he put his head down under Jim Evans [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Ricky Bahl dear from our bill that's one and two on evidence so the rest of the way the Battle of the bullpens [Applause] those have the best bulkhead of a national Liga season [Applause] seven and a half and it would be almost three runs higher than that per nine in it were it not for their outstanding closer Brad lid [Applause] that's Roland's first home run since September the 29th [Applause] they Park in Houston [Applause] former Cardinal manager Whitey Herzog had a great quote somebody asked him what it takes to be a good manager he was told you need two things a sense of humor and a bullpen and if you don't have the bullpen you're probably not going to have a sense of [Applause] Larry Walker and Jim Edmonds both huge hockey fans Walker told me that he was actually going to fly to Sweden on the off day tomorrow to catch a game swinging of his to end the inning but the parties [Applause] and rollin with two-out two-run home runs in a four run st. Louis fifth now the Cardinals in front by a run they'll turn it over to their bullpen and they'll start with a southpaw steep line solid season for Steve Kline you see the numbers right there only thirty seven base hits allowed in 15 to third innings during the regular season good hard sinker hard slider keeps the ball down Klein went on the 15-day disabled list on August 28th with a groin injury missed 28 games did not return until the final week of the season before appearances in that final week as a tune up for the playoff and the first batter he faces Jose Vizcaino rips it into left field a base hit we talked about this Cardinal bullpen and how good it has been during the regular year how good it has been during the playoffs they were not all that sharp here last night they turned what looked like would be a rout when st. Louis had a 10-4 lead into a three-run game and had to bring on their closer to get the final out of the night now what a difference in the crowd before Walker hit his home run they were on the verge of frostbite now they're heating up Dave Duncan gonna come out to the mound they have a Kiko Calero getting loose in the bullpen and while we have a moment let's check in with Chris Myers Tom I'm in the camera well on the first base side and the field is getting a little bit more soggy membered rained all day the rain has not stopped at all it's lighten up a little bit now it looks like it's picked up a little bit but and I don't have my meteorologists seal but the the weather experts have told us that they thought the rain would pass through here within the hour and at least stopped the colder temperatures it's dipping now into the mid to lower 40s down on the field but 30-degree temperatures won't come until the after midnight Central time but nothing obviously are warming up the Cardinal fans like those those two homeruns in the previous inning well you're not lying about that and they're way both these teams swing the bats we may be here for those colder temperatures base hit into left field so Clyde has come on and promptly served up back-to-back hits to the switch hitting this guy you know the straight right-handed batting Ausmus now the pitcher was in the on-deck circle Chad Harville he will be taken down for a pinch-hitter as Calero is cranking it up in a hurry believe that's Adam Everitt who's starting to swing a bat over there in the on-deck circle very good butter configured to be a situation where you'd like to move the runners up for Adsense Brundtland I'm not sure yeah yeah Derek Bruntlett going to be apparently now brought on to pinch-hit for Harvell I think we'll probably find out whether or not he's a very good butter I gotta think going back to the top of the order and now you're gonna see Tony LaRussa coming out at Klein's not right [Music] falero gonna be brought on from the bullpen we had the trip a moment ago by Duncan two on nobody out st. Louis leading by a run to the six we'll be back first to a board here the Houston six inning st. Louis in front for three and now taking over on the mound Kiko Calero he had a terrific regular-season and has been very impressive in the postseason call gating last night gave up a base hit struck out a couple of hitters equally effective against righties and lefties figures to be a bunt situation here Albert Pujols well in on the grass at first base Bruntlett did not have a sacrifice in the big league level during the regular season there's a breaking ball he pulls the bat away and takes down low for a ball Bruntlett out a pair of sacrifices in triple-a New Orleans hasn't done it at the major league level but I sure like the fundamentals he showed by squaring around bending his knees getting down low then he didn't like the pitch and he pulled it away they budget [Applause] dangerous play they're handing the ball but he made the foot didn't get the ball bunted to the right side of the field or the correct side of the field which would be the left side bull help pulls has nothing to do but charge you see how hard he's coming you got to get that down the third-base line and make the third baseman field that ball - how many times we see it look at where pulse is that's an easy play get the ball down the third-base line because he's the one you want to make feel the ball now how many times in major league games have we seen guys bunt the ball the wrong side of the infield we talk about all the little things and they add up to the very very big things especially here in the postseason two on one out for a LD hitter [Applause] Oh - coming three straight sliders and vizio gone and here comes Beltran [Applause] remember his that bad in the first day John tamargo the front of the bench coats wearing a mic for this series is going you might have to hit a toughie [Applause] now Dave Duncan gonna come out and talk things over with Calero they just want to make sure they know exactly how they want to go after beltron here also this is something that Cardinals and Tony LaRussa are notorious for even going back to his days when he managed the Oakland A's as Chicago White Sox but to use a basketball term taking the air out of the ball the Astor's have a little something going here you see trips to the Maui seat pitching changes another trip to the mound it just kind of slows the game down a little bit tries to swing the momentum back to the defense Bernie Williams the only other switch hitter in the history of postseason play to hit as many home runs as Beltran has so far no Claude has done it in six games and two at-bats two on two out bill tried weights [Applause] tidal wave or what another change up there they got him last time with change ups and breaking balls 38 home runs during the regular year for Beltran and a breaking ball is down two balls and no strikes [Music] [Music] Ausmus in front with a boy freedom [Applause] Bagwell in the on-deck-circle you give beltron three old green light here absolutely hottest hitter on the planet trailing by a run here in the sixth inning a runner in scoring position he might be sitting on a changeup he's seen three in a row no we're close to the strikes on a four-pitch walk to beltron which loads him up and here comes back well let's send it downstairs to Chris Myers Tom when the Steve client open the inning had got into trouble the Steve Lyons said that Klein didn't look right and Steve was right he's still bothered by that finger that we'll have surgery on after the season he's only at 75% according to the team trainer it's not that he reactivated it it's just that that finger hasn't healed well yeah the finger and the groin basically affecting wine at the end of the year [Applause] these two teams went toe-to-toe 18 times during the regular season with Houston winning 10 of eet [Applause] [Music] in the airway fetal should end the inning [Applause] for tonight Cardinals come to bat bottom half of the six inning with a one-run lead against the new Houston pitching first pitch slider on the outside corner Dan Wheeler now takes over he began a year in triple-a Norfolk and the New York Mets organization pitched in 32 games for art Howe and then 14 games near the end of the year for Houston Edgar rentería behind oh it too Renteria to be followed in the Cardinal six by Reggie Sanders in Mike Matheny Wheeler's another one of those location guys doesn't throw particularly hard fastball tops out at about 90 decent curb good slider and a good split finger pitch off-speed guy popped up and playable for Bagwell and PAL ground one a week ray came wearing a microphone force in a Cardinal bullpen our Fox sound to the game our new drink cause I drunk off yesterday at 7:00 [Music] so ray got back cup of coffee looking for a seven spot now huh [Applause] well that was the beginning last night of course they got thing six runs if ballplayers are a superstition no not at all popped up by Sanders down the right-field wide when runs it down two up two down by a wheeler and this week's MD symptom checker WebMD focuses on the bruised left foot left shin of Jeff Kent well that's a tough man they found the ball off on Monday and Game five of that left foot against Atlanta did it again here in Game one last night and he's out there tonight Steve I know you'd agree with me I don't think you can adequately explain how badly that hurts when you whack that ball off of that bony area around your ankle and then turn around and do it again before the first one even has a chance to start healing and then it's cold he could probably feel his heartbeat in his ankle right now Jeff Kent's gonna be able to tell us when it's cold long before it's called all winter Metheny thousand on a plane wheeler coming in throwing strikes we told you he was very impressive here last night as Julian tomorrow cranks it up in the st. Louis VIN [Music] but if you're a member of the Houston bullpen the way that the Cardinals have treated you in this series you're begging for that pitch to get called the strike nice job by Brad Ausmus on that pitch getting underneath it and kind of pushing it back up towards the strike zone a little bit we go to the seventh for three use st. Louis and fight back after a break from your local Fox station Game two of the National League Championship Series between these division rivals st. Louis Cardinals won the opener here last night final count of 10 7 the Astros jumped out to a 3 nothing lead a solo home run by Beltran of the 1st Morgan ensberg a solo blast to the 4th and Lance Berkman who leads off the 7th baited three nothing with a single in the fifth but then with two out one on in the bottom of that inning Larry Walker a two-run home run two batters later Rolen gave him a lead with a 2-1 home run off reliever Chad Harville so both starters out of the game Morris 5 hitting six hits walked 5 gave up 3 Monro charged with 3 & 4 and 2/3 innings paints the outside corner strike the big shift put on the switch hitting Berkman you see Scott Rolen the only defender on the left side of the infield Edgar Renteria is actually on the second base side of the bag out there in the infield and what does he do it shoots it the other way that ball will go and Berkman on his way to second base said he will pull in with a leadoff double so the tying run in scoring position to begin the inning Berkman says take this for your shift hit it right into the gap where nobody's standing right in this area you can run for days when you hit it there [Music] vaguely the pitch bagel curveball Berkman sits on and goes the other way well the Astros have missed on a number of scoring opportunities in a game at night they left them bloated in the second one on in the third two in the fifth left to bloated again in the six so in four of their six innings tonight they have left nine men on base and chops it foul Tom in this situation too Kent's really not the greatest guy to have out the plate in this situation because he has to get a base hit he rarely hits the ball the other way so if he makes an out most likely the out will be made to the left side of the field and your guy can't advance the third base when to really Rio moved way over in the hole at shortstop and quickly on to to Kent [Applause] like Calero got away with a hanging breaking ball right there Mike Matheny immediately made his way out to the mound of course with a runner at second base I mean I'm not saying that ball players and coaches and managers are paranoid but you need a look at the swing on that hanging breaker but he get a runner out there at second base for more than a couple of pitches especially a veteran player you always keep an eye on him to see if he's doing anything to relay location to that batter at the plate can't one abate his career against Calero the hit was a whole one [Applause] interesting right there Mike Metheny went out to talk to Kiko Calero came back behind home plate and didn't even hang a sign he went out and verbally told him what he wanted to throw on the O to pitch you see the check swing pointing right at a didn't go [Applause] [Music] one two pitch breaking ball into left field Sanders is there [Applause] Advanced Kent does poet in the air to left one away let's check in with Jeanne Zelasko in Los Angeles well he has been known to punch walls and now Kevin Brown will try to punch out the Red Sox to give his Yankees a three nothing lead in the ALCS series ships to Fenway for Game four tomorrow night on Fox it all begins with the Dodge Dakota pregame show starring the one and only Kevin Kennedy 80s during a 5:00 Pacific we will look forward to that Jill buck Tim McCarver Al Leiter will be at Fenway Park in Boston this series will change venues travel day tomorrow make our way to the Lone Star State the debate park the series resumes on Saturday afternoon and the rocket Roger Clemens will give the start in that one against Jeff Suppan if it's brilliantly in Los Angeles for what a huge effort that was by Suppan and Game four to clinch it for the Cardinals Suppan a big time wrote pitcher tendon won this season in away games and he's willing to post season 11 at one [Music] talk about guys at second base to try to relay signs or location to the hitters Bertram is one of those happy-go-lucky guys on the team they talk about it being a little naive at times I think half the Astros might wonder Berkman knows what location he's in at second base yes quite honestly why a lot of hitters don't want to know if they don't trust that runner at second base to be on the ball and know what he's looking for with the signs from the catcher the hitter would rather not know you don't want to be crossed up by your own baserunner and you can see Berkman they're really not paying too much attention to what's going on with Matheny he's just trying to make sure he doesn't get his ownself picked off a second and usually it's something subtle if you're given location it might be the runner the last place I look if I look at the second baseman they're going away from you if I look at the shortstop they're coming in on you [Music] Morgan ensberg struck out the second inning swinging over to left field the fourth will have two on what he popped up to Edmonds ending the fifth [Applause] there goes the runner gets taken safely as Berkman well if you're gonna do it you better know you're gonna make it and he made it easily that's a good time to take a gamble if you think you can get a jump with one out if you can get to third base now ensberg with an opportunity to drive home a run with a fly ball to the outfield Berkman just kind of lulled him to sleep out there in the middle infield Matheny does everything he can a good quick release good strong throw to third but Berkman in well ahead of the throw well the infield knocked lawn in but they are cheating in a couple of spots three in one now Thames Bergen now they come charging in and it's hit off the end of the bat foul 302 watch this replay of that stolen base again Bob as he watched Morgan ensberg at home plate he does a great job of just holding his ground at home plate he didn't bother moving at all to get right in Matheny Zweig go ahead throw it around me stayed right in the Feeney's way you you have the right to the batter's box and you can do that both of those guys guys talk to floor [Applause] and field comes in for each if hitch we'll do it again we've had plenty of fireworks within the stadium here in this series and now we're treated to a fireworks show out over the Mississippi River did I miss a homerun [Applause] [Music] [Applause] now okay ensberg has to put the ball in play or draw a walk [Applause] Morgan ensberg base hit into centerfield ties a game in full so the aggressive baserunning by Berkman pays off forcing the Cardinals to draw that infield in and just like that a four for a fair in the seventh kind of a defensive swing the balls away from it's a nasty pitch he does a good job of just getting up there you see the breaking ball tight spin on that slider ensberg just fights it off right back up the middle great at-bat [Applause] the workmen for the seventh time in his major-league career steals third base it's a third time he's done it this year but none bigger than that and the fireworks continue to go off along the banks of the mighty Mississippi we'll save his Chi you know the batter potential hit and run situation here visca inna handles the bat very well it's Berg an average runner but try to stay out of that double play continue this inning [Music] it certainly doesn't feel like the fourth of July here swing-and-a-miss what it goes [Applause] [Music] Miss Guyana with two hits already tonight a really bad attempt to try to hit this fall there'd be a pretty good pitch to play hit and run with it look like it was something out well you would normally just try to guide to that left side just hit it on the ground somewhere that ball may be a little bit off the plate but still close enough that this guy you know has got to at least get a piece of that to protect the runner some guys but the Astros tie the game double the started he stole third and scores on the single by Morgan ensberg they stand in stretch in st. Louis and country music fresh start last in the seventh inning of four four games Morgan ensberg has knocked in two of the four Houston runs the signal to bring in Berkman to tied at four and Roger Cedeno attention as we open the bottom of the seventh inning Cedeno with a broken bat ground out to drive it or one in the six run six inning year last night fools would be forth should we get that far in the inning what a sedan yo 265 battered during the regular season with three home runs [Music] slider swung on and missed one ball two two strikes Calero two innings out of the st. Louis bullpen allows two hits and a tying run walked a batter and struck out about it so Daniel gone sweet to begin the seventh inning our game summary brought to you by Nissan by neuro and Morris when this one began neither will figure in the decision beltron started this morning getting his sixth home run of this postseason with a home run of the opening inning Cardinals got six in a six last night took the lead with four in the fifth tonight and the Astros have missed on a number of scoring chances tonight strike one to Tony Womack boy wheeler just pump and strike after strike after strike for the second straight night and of course said he throws a bowl what a Wonder Woman now he's doing the best job of anybody out of the pen as far as changing speeds mile-an-hour fastball slider curveball change all down around [Music] let's it will foul if he picks it up he never throws out a wool back anyway so why not give it a shot wise choice right there little squibber hit on the end of the bat of Tony Womack you can see the spin on that ball kicking up dirt as it goes into foul territory ensberg right there to touch it in foul very interesting you got to look at in that houston bullpen you saw the left-hander Gallo but look who else is down there alongside Roy Oswalt now you would say well maybe he's just throwing in between starts I mean you could do that when it's 75 degrees tomorrow in Houston right well the pitchers are very much on a routine of when they throw when they lift when they do things between starts I got to believe that this was his side day he would have done it much earlier yeah see to the bag just in time wheeler was feeling for that bag after he got the flip from bag WA to up for scheduled shed [Applause] we're at 75 degrees but remember one of the reasons why he didn't get his work in earlier today is because it was pouring rain all day Johnny you see that kind of thing go on a lot during the regular season and you know that's exactly what's going on you don't give it a thought will you see Roy Oswalt cranking it up the bullpen it is seventh inning of a playoff game a little different story why not if it is a side day and he hasn't thrown yet Amy you might need an inning or a couple big outs the national leagues only 20 game winners hanging out down there why not bring him in yeah it's not unusual to do that on a guys side they if your bullpen has digged up it certainly Houston's bullpen has dinged up popped up this time - excellent innings by Dan Wheeler out of their bullpen we're tied at four we go to be [Music] and some of those who are a little sleeping all day here at Busch Stadium sellout crowd on hand for Game two of this National League Championship Series a four for a game and the new Cardinal pitcher what a year for Julian tomorrow [Music] the rectory dan wheeler will now be called back to the dugout [Music] when we're going to get a pitch in it'll be Orlando Palmero they often this series tomorrow that we're back at a game three in Houston for Eastern three central one Pacific on Saturday afternoon Jeff Suppan at a solid regular-season a sensational game for series clinching win at Dodger Stadium on Sunday night against a rockin future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens is first League Championship Series start as an astral [Applause] some manager why would wheeler have been in the on-deck-circle at all sometimes you will try to decoy you send the picture up there with the idea that if the leadoff man gets all you may leave him in to bunt the guy up but I think what gave it away was the fact that two guys are continuing to fling down there and the Houston bullpen so not much of a decoy right there to right-handers getting ready Annette bullpen Palmeiro came off the bench and double down the right-field line last night keep in mind in the postseason the pinch hitters for the Astros have done an outstanding job there's not a lot of huge home run power although lamb went deep as a pinch hitter in last night's game well he got a figure but Shelby's down there get loose should it remain tied at 4 lids cranking it up should used to take the lead now Phil garner said he would definitely use lids for 2 innings or more if necessary short pop up in a center [Applause] Tamara's charged with a1 here last night gave up a couple of base hits including that home run to lamb he also allowed a double to the man who Pat's now Craig Visio and a trip to the mound by Dave Duncan Greg Biggio grew up in the Northeast but grew up a huge Washington Redskins fan he said I will not root I will never root for the Dallas Cowboys and now a season ticket holder to the Houston Texans games with his buddy back will who's a high school tailback he got recruited to Boston College Penn State academically couldn't get into those schools went to Seton Hall and his parents threatened to take away his 69 Mustang if he didn't get good grades at Seton Hall first quarter he got a three point six he got to keep the car hurt when you get challenged like that especially if you're riding around in a sweet ride good motivator oh and one the Oh Raynaud's slider here to Baris dropping his arm angle getting a little bit more sweep on this breaking ball started in the middle the plate ended up way outside [Applause] [Music] [Applause] blew it again in Craig lays off this time you know only sometimes can you move a ball further out of the strike zone [Applause] three of those in her own account even at two at two I like that thread about taking the car away so much I may try that on my son Michael who is celebrating his 18th birthday today if you like driving that truck get your grades up nice going mom happy birthday Michael [Applause] two tips Wow Wow I got news for you you should have taken that truck away from home about two days ago today's is 18th birthday it's already too late well I have an extra set of keys and I know where he parks [Applause] the Renteria [Applause] [Music] at Busch Stadium Game two of this national league championships Boyd knows won the opener here last night ten seven to start things against the new pitcher [Applause] feel quarters a double switch dan Vasily [Applause] macelli one of two members in his Houston bullpen with postseason experience he fits for San Diego way back in 98 a scoreless inning in Game five of the division series two thirds of a scoreless inning a game four he lost Game two when he gave up the home run to Rafael Furcal [Applause] [Applause] it's like Wonder Woman so the very first batter Boselli faces here the eighth-inning [Applause] - Alvar tools and this way [Applause] five you almost get the feeling that pool hostess wasn't happy hitting his line drives up the middle for singles all day long man [Applause] this afternoon his ability to stay inside the ball that time that wasn't your typical stay inside the ball swing he got the bat hit out there in front of home plate it looked like he was trying to plug in with that ball to left field [Applause] I don't think you can pitch around out of pools any more looks like Scott one is to the reaction French the left-center field first guy on the staff [Music] put his head down start running he knows it's way out of here [Applause] [Music] [Applause] we just break your heart lately their bullpen outside of day Wheeler's Brad Lidge the cotton is garner can't get his best pitcher into the game Lidge has electric stuff [Applause] yelling you almost gonna have to start thinking about bringing him in the 6:00 that's where some of these games the lineup rolls around that's a possibility you'll bring your closer into the ball earlier to have to go to the meat of this order you have to do something to to stem the tide and it's it's almost gets into their head a little bit down there rattles their confidence it did happen to give tonight these pardon all players have almost been embarrassed with all the curtain calls that they've taken in the postseason in the first and second day all around [Music] so first out from assembly here [Applause] they want the players to come back out in this situation certainly no problem but some of the players have say hey it's a second inning we scored two runs it's on what we almost feel like we're showing up the other team if we come out for a curtain call but the fans here just want these guys to come back out [Applause] - Homer game in his postseason game one of the division series [Applause] [Music] [Applause] claiming back rosetone came off the back but Lola and Walker joined Ron Gant and Willie McGee four players in cargo post and it's a wrench postseason history [Applause] the Astros have their big guns coming up in the ninth inning against Jason Isringhausen Phil Krom Bagwell in Brooklyn but can they [Applause] the lineup of Don here [Applause] Sanders was a handle on that back kept one hand on it the other one came off a ritzy Sanders uses a kind of a rubberized handle on his fats but yet puts pine tar on and also you'll see Luke does hand come off the bat there the bottom hand come off the bat very unusual goes back it's a little more pine tar you see that rubberized handle that he has applied to the bottom of the bat there [Applause] check swing and he went around on a tutu Sanders postseason history cold-blood pretty good time together [Music] well this is some kind of line 10 on the board last night six more here tonight grounded foul by sander we talked about it the first two games of the series the highest-scoring team for the National League this year I look back to the fifth inning Tom and the DoublePlay ball that Tony Womack hit down to ensberg and they couldn't turn it because of the positioning of Jeff Kent and the inability because of his bad foot to get the second in order to turn that and they go on to score two outs [Applause] [Music] we talked to Tony LaRussa about the familiarity between these two teams they faced each other 18 times during the regular season and he said it's gonna put the emphasis on execution it had their problems with that defensively they've had problems getting buns down and it's costing in this ball [Applause] we go to the ninth to start the antic Roland makes it back-to-back Cardinals three outs away from a 200 lead in the NLCS it's October and major league baseball's postseason is coming down to the wire every game every inning every play counts watch the World Series here on Fox starting October 23rd don't miss [Applause] comes to bat top half of the Dan Miceli allows back-to-back [Music] [Applause] six-four they lead this best-of-seven National League Championship Series me too the Astros lineup against the st. Louis poseur Jason Isringhausen he got the final out the game last night whose seven saves during the regular year cashed in on 47 which is a franchise-record person record used to be held by dennis eckersley 36 of them [Applause] the beltron there's plenty of thunder coming up in this city for Houston to send this one to the bottom of the night [Applause] for six in his career [Applause] three balls two strikes [Applause] Ezri housing can get himself in trouble when he has bouts of wildness and usually that comes on when he can't have a feel for his breaking ball that was a breaking ball to bounce about 55 feet if he can sit on just you can get them [Applause] the walk will bring the tying run to the plate [Music] Jeff Bagwell 27 home runs during the regular season has 446 home runs in his career two in this postseason [Applause] not really much to be gained by beltron stealing second base here but it is ring house is extremely slow to home plate beltron looked like he had him timed up that time a false start and then stopped obviously the ability to stay out of the DoublePlay should Bagwell hit a ground ball and extend the inning but Marlin see beltron run if he can get another jump like he did last time [Applause] [Music] a ball to strike to jump back I think for the most part is rayon Allison doesn't care about Beltran and now it would be another factor in him trying to steal the base to stay out of the DoublePlay she's never been caught in a Nashville uniform [Applause] center field a long run for Edmonds he'll get to it that's the first job now Lance Berkman who flied to left in the first pop the center in the third but since in an RBI single to right and a double into left center field stole a base scored Iran Roy Oswalt is up again and throwing in the Houston bullpen alongside their closer Brad lid [Applause] 30 home runs during the regular season there goes bill pond and it's fouled back out of play beltron doesn't even know that that ball was fouled off he's just hanging out there at second babies now the Cardinal middle infielders didn't even break to cover the bag they're conceding this base right here they don't really care if Beltran steal second that run doesn't Beach if but as we talked about staying out of the DoublePlay can extend your inner [Music] now cools off the bag with the left-handed hitting Berkman up there to play more deep [Applause] he'll go again that is what fisted into short left centerfield [Applause] we saw Jeff go deep last night bull [Applause] thing is he might stay all hard stuff in on the hands if he can against Jeff Kent can't double down to third-base live in the second and he struck out the third pop to shorten the fifth slide to left in the seventh the in a two on here last night and as two home runs this postseason [Applause] first pitch fastball misses [Applause] - I know - Kent Isringhausen in 75 and a third innings this season allowed five home runs [Applause] look out on his two old pitch Kent looking for something a hammer and nowhere close to the strike zone [Applause] Cardinal outfielders playing a couple steps deeper than they normally would and there no doubles defense Jeff Kent represents the tying run they want to keep him off second base if at all possible no we're close to the strike zone four-pitch walk to Kent a pair of walks here in the ninth inning by Isringhausen and here comes ensberg who's had a good night back in the fourth inning he let off with a whole lot of flat Forestal empty he left too often dinner one against the drawing the signal in the center field in the seventh-inning not a member is going to come on and run for Jeff Kent over at first base that is the tying run [Applause] [Applause] [Music] season series decisive live in Atlanta three needs to do and the three nothing lead [Applause] their first trip to the insurance we had everything aligned as far as their pitching was concerned to begin this series after eliminate three games to one of the division series they have plummets their two best guns and games three and four yeah there are two best pitchers but they don't have a whole lot of wiggle room we're gonna need outstanding starts out of both of them [Applause] and the eleven men were left on in the five innings [Applause] just one hit this postseason coming [Music] back-to-back after pools in the eighth and let's check in with Chris Myers all right the Cardinal fans are going crazy with the Scott Rolen a to Homer game steady rain all night you're grew up a Cardinal fan talk about your home runs it's a it's a blast to play here I mean this crowd is going nuts it's been kind of a miserable night as far as whether it goes but more importantly two homers two hits that always are great but you get some success out there you get a little confidence be on the ball a little bit better seen a little better that's the thing if you want to fall in here there you gain some confidence and hope well Roger Clemens would you saw him in September you hit a home run off him you'll see him Saturday back in Houston how important is having a 200 lead going out there well I mean that's let's hopefully the way the home field advantage things set up you know we're gonna go there we got we got three tough days there without a question hopefully two but you never know you got Clemens and Oswalt there so they're gonna be tough games are both become our rate of pitch we're gonna be ready to play congratulations Scott thanks again all right on a big night one of the most respected and appreciated players by his teammates Tom Chris thank you very much on producer tonight Jeff Gallen our director Jim Lynch Artie producer Kerouac Lee McDermott the associate director Aaron Billy Meyer our technical producer Dan wrote on tape technical director Jeff Butler our audio mixer Jeff Cohen studio show produced by Carrie Lyon corrected by Bob Laney the studio coordinating producer Scott Ackerson the studio technical supervisor is Jack Simmons the senior producer at Fox Brown and the executive producer Sir David Hill and Ed gourd and thanks to our camera crew braving the elements as well here tonight in st. Louis the Cardinals flexing their bus when it's six for Lee - Oh we'll see was mightier than the sword because these blades feasted on the ass those pens is a clutch player second only to me as far as hitting it - Barry Bonds and Scott Rolen got hot tonight Jeanne two home runs finally looked healthy tonight 1 for 18 of the postseason prior to this ball game in the Cardinal bullpen once again gets it done and get the bloody run the final quarter looking really pretty in the ninth but it hasn't gets it done Walker squeezes it to get it done offensively in the bottom of the 8th and once again the Cardinals just put that offense up and you know you just can't put these guys away in that pulpit for the Houston Astros it's been downright awful let's face it it's not getting the job Pete Monroe threw a pretty good ballgame got into a little trouble but the book couldn't hold it well here's the good news finally a guy coming to the mountains with mountain with cider the last name of clevon Clemens or Oswalt I'll get it out of my mouth which probably means they'll go more than 4 and 2/3 so you won't see as much as the pen yeah it's gonna happen you're gonna see Brad lives the next game in a game 3 come in for the year tonight and a tie game no matter what so Clemens probably will go at least 7 maybe more but there they're gonna got two bradleys earlier now because they're down two games to none look at the no place like home for the st. Louis Cardinals at home for no look at the batting average at home versus on the road to old six oh that sounds like you're pacing Roger Clemens we did hit in 206 away they're much better club obviously at home and that Roger Clemens will be up he's got plenty of rest and that's a good news for Roger Clemens Jeff Suppan cuz a great game against the Dodgers he mixes and matches change speeds and of course tomorrow night Jeanne the big when Kevin Brown Bronson Arroyo must-win situation for the Sox the Royals a guy that had Triple A last year pitched a perfect game and he's fair well this season against the New York Yankees it was a good curveball from all different angles Kevin Brown good singers we know pitched well against the twins big matchup tomorrow Game three tomorrow night on Fox 8 Eastern 5 Pacific either this reports coming on the heels of the news that curt schilling probably note won't be available for a game seven but yeah - it came seven they've got to get to a game seven first a royal he gives the egg his little fence when he throws strikes on the and the Red Sox hit much better at home than they do on a road in but their office that should show up okay for some of you stay tuned for your late local news for Kevin and Jeanne Zelasko see you back here tomorrow night

Channel: Cardinals Baseball Classics

Views: 6,169

Keywords: mlb, baseball, mlb baseball, 2004 nlcs, 2004 nlcs game two, st. louis cardinals, houston astros, 2004 st. louis cardinals, scott rolen, albert pujols, jim edmonds, larry walker, tony la russa, dave duncan, matt morris

Id: 6w0Y-eadAgc

Length: 161min 31sec (9691 seconds)

Published: Thu Aug 09 2018