2004 NLCS, Game 7: Astros at Cardinals

it's a shame night in st. Louis Missouri and we welcome you to sold-out Busch Stadium for Game seven of this National League Championship Series the Houston Astros in the st. Louis Cardinals tied at three apiece the home team has not lost in this NLCS hi again everybody I'm Thom Brennaman welcoming you to playoff baseball here on Fox no major league franchise has played or one more game sevens than the st. Louis Cardinals tonight is here 13th their rating for in their prior 12 the Houston Astros have never played in a game 7 and Steve Lyons with that in mind who better to have on the mound if you're going down this road for the first time then Roger Clemens well if you think about it no pitcher in the history of the game has taken the ball in a game seven more than Roger Clemens has this will be his fourth but he's evolved so much as a picture over his career he used to be a guy that would blow you away with 97 mile an hour fast balls uses pinpoint control now he's a finesse guy with a power pitchers mentality gets guys out more with sliders and split finger fastball I talked to Scott Rolen before today's ballgame and I said Scott which of Roger Clemens his pitches are the most deceptive he looked me dead in the eye and he said his fastball his slider and his split finger the challenge tonight for st. Louis Jeff Suppan a 16 game winner Bob Brenly during the regular season including this LCS he is locked up with Clemens four times this year he's not beating him yet well Suppan arguably has been the Cardinals best starting pitcher in this postseason seven strong innings of two hit ball against the Dodgers in the clinching game of the division series the game you mentioned game three against Roger Clemens he pitched very well after the first inning he's the guy that relies on command on movement and on his defense to make plays behind him this Cardinal defense has been perfect in the postseason and then lead to be perfect behind Suppan tonight Roger Clemens is making his 30th career postseason start he's never lost against a National League opponent in postseason play Jeff soup has been sensation along the road he struggled at home these two teams going back to February have been waiting for this day a chance to go to the World Series Game seven next on Fox [Music] mariya seed to be found at Busch Stadium in downtown st. Louis Missouri baseball fans grab a cold fresh Budweiser because it's game time Roger Clemens at 42 years old one year younger than the franchise for which he pitches for tonight the Houston Colts 4:45 started back in 1962 and Roger Clemens protection [Music] and here st. Louis Garden take a look at bill Connors joining lineup tonight Craig Biggio leads off in left field Carlos Beltran is in center Jeff Bagwell at first Lance Berkman and white Jeff Kent the second baseman Morgan ensberg back in the lineup at 3rd with a ladder third of Jose Vizcaino Brad Ausmus and Roger Clemens [Applause] [Music] and on the mound for Saint Louis a 16 game winner during the regular season one and one in the postseason Jeff Suppan look at those postseason numbers some of the numbers that you were talking about in the open there Bob he has been very a very good pitcher without the numbers to back it up for the Cardinals he's got about eight pitches we learned that in his first start he's got to have great location he's got a pitch down in the strike zone with all eight of those pitches can order to be effective talk about st. Louis we cover the field defensively yet to commit an error in this postseason and the defense brought to you by stay for Sanders Edmonds and Walker the outfield Rolen Renteria Womack and pools along the infield a battery of Suppan and Mike Matheny and yes Tony Womack is in the starting lineup for more on that let's headed downstairs to Chris Myers Tom I spoke with the Tony moments ago about the severe lower back spasms that took about a last night's game Earl they asked if he would consider acupuncture he said we've tried everything the pain is still there but I'm going to give it a go he is going to be dropped down to seventh in the Cardinal batting order though trainer Barry Weinberg said we'll give him painkillers you'll wear a heat wrap the entire game they hope that the back doesn't stiffen up the greatest concern is his body torque when he's batting trying to get a full swing he will be a hundred percent the Cardinals are hoping that will Max Payne don't hurt their chances of getting to the World Series [Applause] down to the seven spot in the line you told us before the game that they were hoping to push that word he likes to use talks about the running game Lomax hi the leadoff spot a guy who caste is also available in Spanish by utilizing the SAT button on your television Game seven of the National League Championship Series from Busch Stadium in st. Louis and Craig Biggio to lead it off for the astroturf only five of 28 during this LCS [Applause] the Geo 17 seasons in an Astros uniform has law 2409 games the second-most among all players without ever having appeared in a World Series second only to LA file Palmeiro [Applause] Phil garner took over the all-star break for Jimmy Williams you see his record since being named manager they won 36 of their last 46 to leapfrog six teams that were ahead of them in the middle of August to capture the National League log log in the air down the left-field line if it's there it's one nothing it's fair it's one nothing the forty-third career leadoff home run by Craig Biggio gets his first home run his first RV of this LCF eight leadoff home run of this season including the entire regular season he goes out in hammers this pitch look at him reach all the way across the plate gets out in front of a ball that looked like a changeup and kept it fair just extended his swing kept that bat in the strike zone a little bit longer you can see that ball hooking but just does stay fair the visiting team is scored in the top half of the first hitting in six of now seven games [Applause] and ironically enough in the first six games that visiting team has yet to win again now Carlos Beltran what an absolutely phenomenal postseason he is head tying Barry Bonds for most home runs in a postseason with a so definitely be a bad sign if you see a lot of balls hit in the air against Jeff Suppan we talked about it he has to keep the ball down rely on his movement to get ground balls only 7 of the 18 outs he recorded in Game three came on ground balls that went off the end of the bat popped up enrollment let's take another quick look at that home run by Biggio to lead off the game and Bob you talked about him extending his swing he'll get out in front of himself here a little bit because the ball is an off-speed pitch but look at how he keeps his hands back and keeps his hands through the hitting zone most guys will break down and throw that top hand over and that's how you get a weak ground ball to the third baseman now Jeff Bagwell told you Biggio has worn a Houston uniform for 17 years Bagwell 14 years and has logged 2100 plus games in a Houston uniform [Applause] he's yet to homer in this postseason although he knocked in the tying run with a 9th inning single up Jason Isringhausen here yesterday afternoon [Applause] visio giving himself a little room to flex his muscles there a big homerun hitters of Jersey sometimes get a little tighter - Jeff Bagwell we looked on the scouting report about Suppan in his 8 pitches he'll cut his fastball sink it for semen he'll take different arm angles on his breaking pitches sometimes throw the curveball harder Matheny laughs about it says I don't have enough fingers to put down there to call all the pitches he's going to throw out [Applause] [Music] and Bagwell hits it hard into left centerfield Sanders over [Applause] lotta topspin on that line drive Bagwell too goes out over the plate and hooks that ball back to left field you can see Reggie Sanders about a step too far there had to reach back what we've seen Reggie make some great adjustments out there in the outfield in this series another one right there almost have been hooking back to his right as he was chasing and of course maybe he may have got a little glimpse of it in the lights here too we've seen that happen in this ballpark playing conditions afield is very wet still in the outfield they've had all kinds of rain here over the last week only a light sprinkle on and off today [Applause] Twitter Lance Berkman three home runs in this series would nine batted in there are some gaudy numbers up and down this Houston line up in their careers against Jeff Suppan Jose Vizcaino is hit 565 Bagwell and Kent each at 400 would you Suppan did not get a win going head-to-head against Roger Clemens three times during the regular season and then Game three of this year to achieve the top five opposing hitters three of them are Houston Astros against Jeff Suppan there the numbers York about Tommy he's often a little and now the Astros hand the bowl the Hall of Famer to be Roger Clemens [Applause] [Music] one-nothing houston in front after a half inning Cardinals come to bat Tony LaRussa's lineup told you Edgar Renteria leads off for the first time since August of 2001 Larry Walker in right now her pools at first Scott Rolen at third Jim Edmonds in center Reggie Sanders in left Tony Womack batting seventh Mike Matheny the catcher Jeff Suppan on the mound against the six-time sy Young Award winner Roger Clemens strike one to Renteria another outstanding year for the future Hall of Famer an 18 game winner - and on three starts in the postseason it really two different completely different styles of pitcher here tonight Clemens want you to miss the ball Suppan needs you to put it in play check out the scouting report on Clemens two different fast balls he can counter before semen two different sliders got a Brad Lidge time slider and one that's a little more of a slur works down in the strike zone a lot more and a little contradiction Airy needs a high strike so they can get hitters to chase a pitch up in the strike zone as well fastball that he talked about it before the game three start really never came in on any of the st. Louis paddock but he definitely planted a seed in their mind [Applause] Renteria passed to a two as no question that part of Rogers game and always has been part of his game is intimidation he put intimidation a little bit of fear and a hitter to go with the great stuff that Roger has is it awfully difficult to hit him fouled out of play the only time Renteria has hit in the leadoff position since 2001 was this year's all-star game [Applause] see his career numbers batting leadoff just six points less than all his spots up and down the batting order 2 2 pitch off the outside corner McConnell stroll to humper down to Morgan ensberg and Renteria retired let's cover the field defensively what do you mind stay for video Deltron that's where this guy you know Ken and Bagwell and a battery employments in Austin's the Astros did not start this series playing well defensively but now four straight games without an air [Music] [Applause] swing and a Miss by Larry Walker wonder if Walker got himself some Visine this more walking around two days ago asking which day was Clemens going to start because he wanted to make sure he knew which night he wasn't going to be able to sleep [Applause] taken away in the first inning of Game three of this League Championship Series Walker homered the deep left centerfield off Roger Clemens the only two ones Clemens allowed in that game we're home run to Walker and Edvin mostly fastballs from Clemens so far Walker only six hits in the series two of them for home runs he goes in his strike [Applause] popped up and playable left side of the infield ensberg crosses into foul territory and that's the second out of the inning this is called establishing your fastball on both sides of the plate first pitch up and in then he goes away for a ball next pitch comes back in all faust balls then away and then trying to go to that same spot again gets the pop-up through nothing but Faust balls he's telling the Cardinals right now I will establish at about 93 94 and then you'll have to deal with my other stuff when I feel like throwing power against power as Halbert pools digs in and he looks at a strike much like beltron for the Astros it's been an extraordinary postseason for Albert pools a 500 batter in this LCS with four home runs and eight batted in [Applause] up almost right Roger Clemens is won five consecutive postseason decisions and has allowed three runs or less in 23 of 29 playoff starts his team is 11 and 4 in his last 15 postseason out two Bowls in his plate [Applause] of course Clement spending most of his time in the American League but the two numbers that jump out at you he has never lost to a National League opponent and has never lost through the gardens to a to the poles in his career in game sevens we told you tonight as his fourth the most all-time he was tied with Bob Gibson the Cardinal great nap category and he's been mighty good although he did struggle Game seven of the American League Championship Series against Boston last year left the game in the fourth inning trailing for nothing the game that of course was won on the Aaron Boone home run in extra innings [Applause] two three ball count to every batter in the a pitch count has always been a concern with Roger Clemens on the mound it's not unusual for him to get up over the hundred pitch mark in the fifth inning of the ball clémence shaking off Ausmus a couple of times playable for Lance Berkman and Roger Clemens a one-two-three opening inning we go to the second one nothing Astros in front [Applause] [Music] said to begin a top half of the second inning Game seven of his National League Championship Series with the Astros in front one nothing Jeff Kent Morgan ensberg Jose Vizcaino coming up against Jeff Suppan can't just six hits in a series but three of them for home runs including the walk-off to break a scoreless tie in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game five Jeff Kent Homer to give Suppan in that game three that we've talked about in the first inning a two-run homer and really Suppan settled in nicely after that gave up only two base hits over his next five innings of work gave up three in the first of that game gave up just one in the first of this one - OH Anthony's a strike this Holmen in Game three respond mention came in the opening inning with two men out it gave Houston a 3-1 lead [Applause] told you about the numbers for Kent in his career against Suppan he's worn out this entire Cardinal pitching staff all year long in 24 games against st. Louis and remember these two teams both play in the same division so they met 18 times during the regular season with used in winning 10 of the 18 Kent hit 340 and knocked in 21 runs full count of course because of all those matchups is why we talked about Suppan and Clemens matching up five times this season alone two punts only tonight I face them two times when I was in the American League too I can't get away from the guy [Applause] they all pitch coming to camp and he takes the breaking ball down and away and he draws the leadoff walk for those of you that have been focused primarily on the American League Championship Series we bring you up to speed in Game one a four-four game until the sixth inning the Cardinals got six runs and won it by three in the eighth inning tied at four pools and Rolen went back to back off Dan Miceli to win the first two games at home we go to Houston and the Astros rip off three straight wins led by Clemens in Game three in Game four a five five tie before Beltran homered against Julian Tavarez the game-winner by Kent in the bottom of the ninth of Game five and the game-winner by Edmonds in the twelfth inning here late yesterday afternoon it has been a fantastic series [Applause] Morgan ensberg did not start the game here yesterday my clam got the nod and hit a home run ensberg lifts a flyball at Larry Walker for the first out of the inning [Applause] only three times since the best-of-seven format into the playoffs in the World Series only three times has the home team won every game 87 91 and the 2001 Royal World Series when a club managed by Bob Brenly beat the Yankees four games to three you remember a few of those games bagel yeah lotta fun when the greatest lines I ever heard came out of that series when you guys are in a little bit of trouble and they ask you who you wanted to get up down in your PIN and you said Rivera they told you he pitches for the Yankees would have been nice if he could have got up for you I could get the manager on to have that option if any relief from either team into left-center field and hitting for Jose Vizcaino continues against Jeff Suppan we told you this guy you know with a highest career batting average against Suppan then any player Jeff has ever pitched him we continue to see the Astros hitters hit the ball in the air against Jeff Suppan is so vitally important for his success to keep that ball down get the ground balls to turn double plays to escape big innings so far in this game a lot of pitches elevated a lot of pitches lifted in the air that's nice balance I think we were already seeing a little glimpse of the managerial styles right now Garner deciding not to bump the runner over ensberg ah let him swing away and he pops up whereas Tony LaRussa is more willing to play small ball especially in this game like the Brad Ausmus only two hits in 16 at-bats in this series without a run batted in Tommy you mentioned vizcaino swinging the bat well lately but sometimes a sacrifice but you have to look who are the following hitters you always want to advance a runner into scoring position for the bottom of your order you have to face the picture he's going to come up to no question about it but if you're going to win this game you certainly have to look at anybody trying to contribute especially this guy on hitting very well against Suppan give Ausmus a shot to break out 1 1 to Ausmus breaking bolt down and away Astros hitters laying off those breaking balls down that induced primarily the ground balls that Suppan is looking for there's no question if both of these teams know exactly what the pitchers are going to try to do there are no secrets at this point in the season as you mentioned they faced each other 18 times in the regular season they see each other six times in the last week scouting reports videotape there are no secrets at this point in the season in the air deep left-center field Edmonds on the run go in a second basic there is no way he catches this ball look ground is making up and the four dive an extension away from the play [Applause] great diving catch both the runners were on the right side here screen [Applause] they conceded with protocol well off the bag at first he had no chance of catching that ball as well [Applause] now Roger Clemens down a sweat that could turn out to be in this game and in this series and a series has come down to this game saves two runs you end up with a guy on third with only one out [Applause] John tamargo the Houston bench coats wearing a microphone our Fox sounds of the game after that catch by Edmond [Applause] the years about jim edmonds one of the things that made that even a more difficult catch for Edmonds is the fact that he's left-handed if you're a right-handed player running away from the ball like that and catching the ball on the left side of your body you're reaching and backhanding the ball and it's a much easier play than having to reach the way Edmonds had to do to catch that ball diving play by Jimmy Evans [Applause] Jimmy Edmonds a spectacular diving play to save for sure one perhaps two [Applause] the line drive to deep left centerfield by Brad Ausmus with two aboard the now Roger Clemens in the second ending with a one nothing lead ball one to Scott Rolen [Applause] rollin 8 of 25 in a series with a pair of home runs this honest renovation Leila one away a force the spectacular is nothing new for Jim Edmonds a six-time Gold Glove winner [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] top of the second inning here too [Applause] where's Ben slinging edmonds on the ground at Kent quickly to Olli in the Cardinal second a little help from Mother Nature on that catch out there in left-center field the flags on top of the stadium here blowing straight in from centerfield of course once the wind gets inside the bowl and starts swirling around you never quite know what it's going to do but if ball appeared to get up there and just kind of flutter and gave Edmonds a chance to run underneath it make that great catch oftentimes we talk about outfielders have such great speed they can outrun their mistakes that they don't get great jumps on the ball Edmonds does not have the blazing speed he just doesn't make mistakes strike one to Reggie Sanders up until yesterday it had been a very quiet series for Sanders Tony Womack shop down to third row in the dirt picked out of there by Bagwell and that'll end the inning we play two at gate seven one nothing [Music] one-nothing ballgame Houston in front we go to the third throughout this LCS we've identified a key matchup in the game to determine who holds the DirecTV advantage look at these numbers identical in wins team batting average run scored and ER a that's not a typo in any category Greg Vizio who produced the games only run with the first ever leadoff home run in a game 7 in postseason history Tommy made a great point between innings Roger Clemens had a three ball count and a 3-2 count to every hitter he faced in the first and in the second inning he threw five pitches total one Anna one DiMaggio and he hits another one gavel Fe this one is [Applause] Carlos Beltran told you already he belongs in this bow season tying Barry Bonds for the most be a score he's done it with a bat he started with his legs stolen bases in the postseason and he had a play much like the one Edmonds made a while ago at Minute Maid Park to take away perhaps an inside-the-park home run off the bat of Edgar rentería to a notable Tron it's been quite a coming-out party for Carlos Beltran of course people around baseball people in Kansas City knew what a great player he was but getting the opportunity here on the big stage to show what he's all about I went bounces up there Torino to go talk about his defense ball gets by mitts 436 straight away [Applause] deep left-center corralling that drive off the bat of Reggie sandy and a four-pitch walk to Beltran he had 42 stolen bases during the regular season since coming to the National League he has not been thrown out yet in 33 stolen base attempts 28 no load during the regular season five in this postseason potential base-stealing situations the Cardinals pitchers have at some point during the next at-bat held the ball go into the stretch position and just hold to see if that runner will come in five straight pitches out of the strike zone by Suppan and Matheny going to come out there and visit Suppan can throw a fastball in the low to mid-90s he runs it up there occasionally 94 but most of his stuff breaking balls change ups slower pitches late breaking sliders tough to handle for a catcher if you have to throw a great guy for belt on to be able to get a great jump and steal a base on and you will be stealing it on Suppan not Matheny World Series begins at Fenway 6:34 30 Pacific Willoughby Houston or st. Louis to take on the red sock - it owned out of a glow we saw Beltran score all the way from first base on a double down a third base line from Bagwell in the third inning yesterday that hit the padding prior to going down into the left-field corner ouch I was really making Jeff Suppan work in the early going here we mentioned he needs to keep the ball on the ground so far not one ground ball out in this game for Jeff Suppan [Applause] but a good base dealer will change the complexion of the game in a hurry changes the defense changes the catcher's making changes the pitchers thinking just the threat of stealing a base I don't think a lot of people have talked about the great second half of Bagwell due to Beltran on in front of them there he goes pitch intro to second he said he's in there easily 34 consecutive stolen bases it's coming to the National League by Carlos Beltran including the playoffs then you call to Steve there was nothing Mike Matheny could do about that just an awesome jump over there at first base Beltran is really a student of the running game we've seen him throughout this series get on 1st base and gradually take a little more lead a little more lead and get the most unbelievable jumps of his 42 stolen bases during the regular season he was 16 for 16 stealing foot flyball right-center field and mittens over to get it Beltran taggi here's a flop and it gets the dugout and beltron will score the offense can take days off bitching can take days off speed never takes days off and beltron has run mystic into its second one of the game [Applause] well he gets behind it gets a little momentum going to get beltron [Applause] the third-base dugout second run of the game for the Astros we're going to make an appeal at second base but he did not leave early and that's gonna be a tough error for Jimmy Edmonds the ball Beltran and Rolen all getting the third base basically at the same time and then it kicks away into the dugout what a magnificent postseason it continues to be for Carlos Beltran that is the first heir of this most seasoned by the st. Louis Cardinals Lance Berkman live in the center field chapter 2 on the other a walk a stolen base in an error through that they used it while those built on walk in a third inning steal second fly ball to center field tags up goes to third and Aaron throw brings him home to nothing Houston as the Cardinals bat against Roger Clemens last to the third inning looking for their first base runner of the game one-on-one - oh man Womack being drop-down in the order with the back spasms Morgan ensberg thinking that he might be more apt to bump because he can't swing but gotta remember he can't run very well either he had base hits in his first two plate appearances yesterday before leaving the game found out a play third base side Clemens ahead one and two and Clemens very sharp early on very sharp with his command his velocity is good he just seems to be in a real nice rhythm out there on the mound after that first inning when he went three ball count on all three hitters including two full counts the Cardinals were very aggressive in the second hitting him off the hook with only five pitches got away again talked about him in the open being more of a finesse guy now with a power pitchers mentality there's a possibility that this may be Roger Clemens last game ever and he came out in that first inning wanting everyone to remember that he's a power guy with all the base hit did she all over to cut it off here comes Roman the second base [Music] [Applause] bug-eyes he never was an injury on anyone I wish my back hurt look at him turning alone [Applause] [Music] an awkward position that can't feel good for a man has been suffering from back spasms for the last 24 hours but a sweet move right there knowing that if there was going to be a tag applied it would come from the other side of the base mike matheny just two of 16 in this LCS without an RBI [Applause] Bauza delays down a strike well Tony Womack for your Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001 Bob Brentley had arguably the two biggest hits in franchise history Game five of the division series eliminating the st. Louis Cardinals with a game-winning single off Steve Kline and in the double which knocked in the tying run the bottom of the ninth inning Game seven of the World Series against Mariano Rivera that is a and Matheny will advance we caught up with Tony LaRussa ah knitting ago is what he had to say honey you seen this happen a lot of times with your career here in st. Louis and since Edmonds has been here that cat saved you a couple runs that might be into being the difference in the game that's at least two and who knows what more but as a great play Tony Womack scheduled to lead off the bottom of the third inning for you explain your thinking and moving him down in the lineup of putting Edgar Renteria in the one hole well Edgar was going to hit first at Luna plain I thought you know there's a chance that Tony can't finish this game and then your replacement Luna this is the top of the lineup that's really not very fair to him so let me in a 7 spot and it's not a bad spot he's leading off the next thing that he leads off this inning with a double here comes a sweet [Applause] wait until comments committed to the the whole plate Suppan push that ball out to the right side of the infield ana-lucia said he was going to push even harder tonight against Clemens when he says bush he's talking about face running hit and run stolen bases Thalia dumps it pal and what Tony LaRussa said about one what walnut just went through in that series of plays could get him out of the ballgame and if it does and he has to be replaced he certainly did his job for the time he was in the game grounded foul on his aide of Renteria Noah to the very early in a game the Cardinals playing small ball they get the leadoff double by Womack Matheny moves into third with a ground ball to the right side and then Tony LaRussa rolls the dice and Suppan brings in the first Cardinal one of the game only trying to get the Cardinals to the World Series for the first time since 1987 [Applause] good play by Clemens on a high hopper and that'll in the inning the suicide squeeze Game seven of the National League Championship Series and three two one Houston st. Louis Missouri two one Houston leads Game seven of this National League Championship Series at the end of three close to 53,000 on hand tonight at Busch Stadium where the Cardinals have not lost like Game seven in the postseason World Series when Nikki Lola's now duel Bob Gibson in Game seven of that World Series ball and a strike to Jeff Kent who walked in the second inning and can't help with a pitch [Music] look at that from Suppan runs up and in just clips Jeff Kent's Jersey Astros with the leadoff man on here in the fourth inning ensberg did not bunt back in the second when Kent walk to leadoff we'll see what they do here ensberg flied out to right field in that it back bodies beginning to stir in the st. Louis bullpen there's the hold you were talking about Bobbie serves a couple of purposes the runner may tip something the batter may tip something in as we see Gene Lamont is forced to go through another set of signs and Tony LaRussa and his staff are probably the best in baseball and trying to steal the opposing team signs no sign of a bunt on the first pitch to Enberg he dumps it away strike one remember the story that Tony LaRussa told us before Game three of the series he wouldn't tell us who the player was but he said he was an average player not very good but he was great at stealin signs we kept him on the roster just for that getting an advantage we owe on the board [Applause] it's a very spooky feeling when you're the opposing manager over in that third-base dugout and you go through a set of signs to your third-base coach and you take a look over at Tony LaRussa's side of the field and you've got about eight sets of eyes beaming in on Tony will hide behind the TV camera on occasion over there in that first base dugout bench coach Joe patina gave Duncan the pitching coach Mitchell page the hitting coach Dave Mackay the first base coach all have responsibilities as to who they watch when the signs are given on the bench players guys that don't play everyday a few guys that aren't even on the roster some of the starting pitchers will also do the same thing and watch players to see if pitchers are tipping their pitches one a to Dan's birth see if they can pick up anything from the middle infielders sometimes guys will move on a breaking ball which were Renteria to maybe take a step and a half to his right on a breaking ball thinking that ensberg mipoulok again found out a ploy it remains one ball two strikes that pitch count beginning to pile up for Suppan here in the fourth inning Clemens threw three has only thrown 35 pitches Suppan knocking on the door at twenty better than that Lowen had two balls two strikes Suppan a teammate with Roger Clemens when he was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox was selected by Arizona in the expansion draft pitch there for a half a season moved on to Kansas City where he really got his career on track move to Pittsburgh last year then traded to Boston did not pitch in the postseason for the Red Sox fouled back out of play Cardinals took a flier on in this season avoided that payoff grew up in Southern California where his father his mother and Jeff have just opened a restaurant soups grill what else would you expect [Applause] Wow the way again pretty good at-bat here by Morgan ensberg and a better swing right there by ensberg some of the swings earlier in the bat were a little more defensive fouling balls off to the right side this is a very good aggressive swing that really let it go [Applause] this will be the eighth pitch and is hit back all aboard that was a defensive speaker I def almost when I hit him he didn't get his baton it way up and in yeah the sternum run off his fist Kanak first nobody out top half of the fourth inning and again a 2 2 breaking ball low to run the count full now ensberg has struggled in this series we told you his two of nineteen Ken at seven stolen bases in ten attempts during the regular year Bobby you starting mayor I think you can ensberg only struck out forty six times in over 400 at-bats this year pretty good chance he's going to put the ball in go ahead starker on [Applause] or series long that's out away on 10 pitch at-bat thus far for Morgan ensberg one of the Phil garner did when he took over this team was put everybody on the greenlight said I had a veteran ballclub that knows when to run when not to run they're smart and we have to be more aggressive we're going to be [Applause] mike matheny we've seen those eyes of Tony Womack through the years when he takes his lead over at first one thing to think about is the balls early [Music] to the side three two there he goes lined into left field it'll fall a basehit can't an aggressive turn but we'll stop at second base so the Astros leading by a run two on and nobody out and Jose Vizcaino coming up Dave Duncan going to come out visit with Suppan okay fellows let's get back to strategy for a minute as Danny Haren starts to throw in the Cardinal bullpen you have a guy in Vizcaya nose hitting nearly 600 in his career against Jeff Suppan you have the number 8 hitter waiting any on deck circle Roger Clemens after that if this guy you know puts down the bunt they may walk Ausmus to force Clemens up to the plate with the bases loaded one out with all that in mind do you guys ask this guy you know the bunt right here or let him swing away I think in this particular situation because of the following hitters you have to let him swing away at some point if he gets the count in his favor hit and run as a possibility you don't like to really hit and run with two runners on and nobody out because of the fear of hitting into a line drive triple play but the way this guy you know swinging I think he laid keep hacker the bunt here even if you do walk Ausmus because Clemens will come to the plate with the bases loaded he's acting's outstanding with the bases loaded and he have two outs to work with first pitch swinging this guy no drops it foul he singled in the left center field his first time up basketball inside a bonus strike to this kind of who after the single his first time up 14 hits in 24 career at-bats against Jeff Suppan breaking ball fouled off behind the plate we invite you to play hit the pros presented by the all-new GMC canyon that face real pitches from today's best hurlers log on to foxsports.com keyword games GMC we are professional grade [Applause] Jeff can't believes in second Morgan ensberg at first with nobody out one to two this guy you know down an end even account on the ground down to first pools to second and Renteria wisely sticks it in his pocket rather than taking the chance of throwing it away runners on the corners one out other pools has become a very serviceable first baseman down there good quick jump step to make a nice throw on to second to get that lead out this great footwork good quickness as the first out recorded on the ground by Jeff Suppan in this ball game we talked about it at the top of the show he's a sinker slider guy that needs to keep the ball down let his defense work behind him every out before that in this game had been either a strikeout or a fly ball Ausmus without an RBI so far in this LCS his first time up he hit the line into left-center field that Edmonds made the diving play on to save one if not two if not more than that [Applause] it bounces up their block beautifully as he has done through his entire career including this series by Mike Matheny if your young catcher at home and you want to learn how to block balls pay close attention to these two catchers in the game tonight Mike Matheny the best in the business kicks his feet out his upper body leaning over to make sure that ball bounces down stays in front this one actually hits him on the right arm and gets about as far away as a ball will ever get from Mike Matheny and that ball took a very odd hop about a foot farther to his right than anyone expected and he still knocked it down pitch out we're putting Suppan in a hole here at two balls and no strikes with runners on the corners and only one out Ausmus in a good position to hit right now but if he gets into a situation where he fouls off the pitch with the Lucky's been having in this series he's the one that hit the ball that Edmonds ran down I'd drop a bunt down the third base line three and Oh lemons walking back to the Houston dugout Reno on Brad Ausmus Dec 3 all kal well he has to throw another strike right here can't the runner at third biscaia no on it first three one two Ausmus defensive swing they're on a pitch down and in the kind of swing of the three-in-one [Music] [Applause] three balls two strikes Jax one did he a fail chance for Brad Ausmus [Applause] big break for the Cardinals as I mentioned before Clemens has come to the plate in his career three times with the bases loaded three hits with six RBIs he's looking for his first bow season [Applause] it runs inside for ball one he's one of 14 in his career at the plate [Applause] and third disc I know it flourish - away found out a play by Clemens a bowl an asteroid Clemens 42 years old time all-star six times scion award winner the most by any pitcher he may get a seventh this year ready Johnson may give you six what a team obviously the Astros are hoping the logic Oh cash in that runner [Applause] we're listening at the top [Applause] before game five Clemens had his oldest son Coby out taking some batting practice in Minute Maid Park regularly depositing balls into the left-field giving his father [Applause] [Music] [Applause] works nobody out jam big hitters coming up for the Red Birds [Applause] and all of the order coming up for Larry Walker Albert pools and Scott Rolen Walker popped up in foul ground on a 3-1 pitch his first time up [Applause] Fleming's only 35 pitches to get through the first three innings of his game he's ahead of Walker in the bowl of two strikes beltron of course the big pickup for Houston at the trade deadline Larry Walker the same coming over from Colorado for the st. Louis Cardinals [Applause] in the air left centerfield one of your room out there for video [Applause] we saw the way Roger Clemens worked Larry Walker in his first at-bat putting him in the rocking chair fast balls in and out he starts him with a fast to see where they came lay this down low with another fastball for a strike and in rock the plate lifting a flyball into left centerfield and Clemens tonight has done an outstanding job establishing that fastball so he can set up the curve the slider and the split-finger for later in this ballgame second time around for certain hitters third time around for others the 11 batters he's faced thus far strike one on ten of them flied out to right his first time up and excuse me swing drop foul and out of play Fowler pools in his six Oh too often they said by Barry Bonds in number six home runs a Cardinals postseason record tardy again on the fastball have sit down the right-field line how to play you look at the two at-bats that Walker has had has seen almost all fast balls one overthrown split finger as you said Bob pool holes mostly fast balls that will change as the game goes on but what a job he's doing basically with the old number one [Applause] oh and two on Albert pools he had a good rip at a fastball there and found it straight back Bobby you talked about the number of times that Clemens has shooken off the signs from Ausmus and almost every time he does it's because he wants to go back and throw the fastball amazing 42 years old [Applause] split-finger misses down low since turning 40 years young Roger Clemens is 144 games with an ER a of barely three and a half and opposing hitters in the American League and now his first season in the National League 240 against it Oh foul I think it's safe to say that often times Clemens talks about his idol who pitched in to his Roger Roger Clemens Idol Nolan Ryan and fellas were seeing two of the game's all-time greats pitch in their 40s this year Clemens at 42 Randy Johnson at 41 Johnson may have had his best season ever this year on a team that lost 111 games they ranked two and three on the all-time strikeout list two hopper to Kent and Clemens has sent down pools twice tonight but one thing all those guys have in common is their work ethic work extremely hard in the offseason to get ready for the grind of the Reg [Music] the astrodome leaving the ballpark as a visiting player walking by the weight room a couple of hours after game time and nolan ryan was still in there throwing the iron around working out i mean it's not just an accident that these guys are as good as they are at this age they work extremely hard [Applause] Scott Rolen digging in breaking ball down and away Rolen flied out to center field his first time on [Applause] [Applause] check swing in amiss let's send it downstairs to Chris Myers Tom you see on a day when a guy pitches and not even his teammates talk to him the closer he gets to game time but a couple hours before tonight Clemens in the clubhouse the teammates talking about a fishing hunting trip that went it all worked out well it was worth the trip he had his teammates the chuckling and relaxing tonight I hope it's worthless if for all of us Roger Clemens keeping and white pitching for the Astros well the most important game in franchise history they brought Roger Clemens back home [Applause] after sodding Andy [Applause] [Music] we've seen a lot of that over the last three gays to the playoffs why the Boston Red Sox went and got Curt Schilling it's why the New York Yankees went and got Kevin Brown and Javier Vasquez now will Clemens tonight jumps all over that fastball at 95 miles per hour in Hooksett will foul [Applause] miss Rogers live Debian Kohli is oldest son on her right oh he has a big baseball tournament down in Florida this weekend Rogers hoping that he's still busy and can't go he said I'm going to send mama down scouts want to see check swing fouled out of play it was a unique situation when Clemens decided against retirement and he petted talking him into coming back but he didn't want to make all the road trips unless he was pitching so he called up Greg Biggio and Jeff Bagwell and he said this is what I'm thinking about doing I want to spend more time at home do you mind if I don't make every single road game they talked it over said come onboard big fella we'd love to have you [Applause] Korean - still - Roland Clemens was 12 and 3 at home this year but interestingly enough when I talked to him he said you know what I want the road games here that's why he wanted a pitch in Game two of this series on three days rest he said I can handle a hostile environment on the younger guys block it out better than they were eighth pitch edition back for the loose warning time makes a play we're back after a break from your local Fox station top of the fifth inning Game seven of this National League Championship Series a Houston Astros trying to get to the World Series for the first time in franchise history 43 years since they began playing in the national inning strike one to Craig Biggio [Applause] the Geo let off the game with a home run down the left-field line like a changeup out over the plate down a little to that left-field corner Spring Training starting in February 162 game regular-season the Division Series now here in the LCS we came out of the manager's meeting with Phil garner this afternoon at 4 o'clock and Craig Biggio and a pair of shorts and a t-shirt bat in hand headed down to the cage get a little extra work in to one divisio swing an abyss [Applause] subhan generally relies on late movement like it gets out of that pitch right there and Biggio swings right over the top of it breakeven pitch on the way full count two ones three hits four men left on base for Houston one run one hit one big air and nobody left for st. Louis 3-2 pitch got him swinging for the last two days in his National League Championship Series we've had walk-off home runs Jeff Kent in Game five Jim Edmonds here yesterday are you guys surprised team I'll start with you that a home team has not lost a game in this series well not that surprised especially the way the rotation worked out I mean I think we thought that the the Cardinals would have an advantage in the first couple games and then going down to to Houston where they don't lose at all and then get the chance to see Clemens and O's walton games 3 & 4 down they're not that surprising first pitch swinging Beltran four sheep on here the of course I think there's something to be said for the home crowds that obviously the fans here in st. Louis have been outstanding for a number of years in the Astros fans responded to the challenge that was one of the loudest venues I've ever been to in my life [Applause] join the people and go to these cities have been fabulous Southwest part of America down in Texas and here in the heartland of America the Midwest we thank the Astro fans and Cardinals fans for all their hospitality during this series going one two Bagwell with two down and nobody on here v in the air left-field Sanders back to the warning [Applause] twenty years two days two 42 year-old Roger Clemens said to begin the bottom half of the fifth inning [Applause] [Music] [Applause] in Game seven of the Stan Championship Series Edmonds digging in strike one opening against an facility plus the game seven [Applause] get a look at National League Championship Series history six walk-off home runs we've seen walk-off home runs in each of the last two games of this NLCS 2004 [Applause] Roger Clemens without a strike out those boy tonight the last time he went longer in a game without picking one up September the 19th 2001 the game against the White Sox did not get his first strikeout until a 6 M to strike him out to get him out [Applause] the card by single representative [Applause] last time the Cardinals had the leadoff hitter on when they scored their only run in the third inning Tony Womack led off with a double now Jim Edmonds here in the fifth inning with the leadoff single [Applause] for keeping that pitch countdown 100 pitches in the fifth inning he isn't even up to 60 in this ballgame [Applause] struck out seven of the next [Applause] replay again of Edmond's homerun ball in last night's ballgame we talked about him being a high ball hitter that darn thing was almost over his head [Applause] fastball away [Applause] Reggie Sanders with a good rip right there three hits in the ballgame last night and more than any hitter in this series Reggie has really come on in the last couple of ballgames even the last game down in Houston he hit the ball very hard the play Beltran made backing up tal's Hill in center field was appalled and Reggie Mandy hit that [Applause] very much a streaky hitter he can carry a team on his shoulder for weeks at a time and he can struggle mightily when he's not swinging well but last three ballgames Reggie has really been squaring it up [Music] [Applause] [Music] ah miss got him with a breaking ball that's what you can do to Reggie get him thinking fastball and then throw on the breaking pitches away second on this Cardinals team in strikeouts with 118 this is great placement by Clemens outer half [Applause] a lot of weapons for Clemens now up and in low they go load away doesn't chase to the key [Applause] pitch check swing fouled away it gives us a chance to tell you our Budweiser fantasy player Johnny Damon won a game seven last night driving in six log on to foxsports.com keyword fantasy baseball night's game brought to you by Budweiser grab a cold fresh Budweiser it's game time congratulations to Terry Francona and the Boston Red Sox the last time they reached the World Series Roger Clemens hits and can League championships 86 what does that tell you about his longevity I think the last time the Red Sox have been to a World Series he won Game seven and here we are 18 years later of course Red Sox fans would just soon not be reminded as to how that series ended get another shot [Applause] only eight stolen bases on the season but [Applause] - - got him looking we had a chance a moment ago to catch up with Houston pitching coach Jim Hickey the rockin off to a good start in the ball games and I seem to be thrown a lot of fast balls in the early part of this game well I think that was part of the plan you know he felt pretty good the weather is cool he's trying to get himself loose to get himself into it I wouldn't be surprised to see him go away from that a little bit of the game progresses offensive ly you guys have not been as aggressive tonight as you have [Applause] first sending gedman's back to the back gym heck Hickey quite all the nose here here in the fifth inning we seen a lot more breaking balls from Roger Clemens that we saw in the first four it mostly that slider pitch he's gone two away from the right-handed hitters lot of split a few splits too in his last at-bat but mostly fastball slider so far this game that's a sign that Clements is actually battling through some things I don't think he has a good feel for that Steve you touched on it a moment ago and Clemens talked about it his last night in his LCS game three he was really battling with his stuff through the early part of the game and he was lights out from the fourth inning on Racine blowing on his hand out there on the mound as you mentioned Tom a very cool evening and sometimes it's hard to get a grip the splitter figures to be the pitch the most trouble gripping yep LAN 1 to Tony Womack who doubled and scored the only Cardinal run Mauro patient innocent [Applause] that's a plane because of the way Tony Womack hits he hits a lot of balls the other way he got this guy an O playing more in the six hole than he normally would be in a double play situation that should be a ball we're generally he'd be closer to second base and that would be a made-to-order DoublePlay ball but because Womack hits a lot of balls to the left side of the infield he had to protect over there [Applause] the first five games of this series as base hits in each of his last four trips here's Matheny fly to bunt his way on stabbed at it missed it throw to first and again [Applause] how about that boy and Tony Malusi going to come out and argue with the first base umpire Eric Cooper it's an automatic pickoff for a catcher anytime a batter bunts through the ball the natural reaction of that runners to try to get an extra step out there in advance to the next base this sure looked like Womack got his hand [Music] electing to turn and fire to Jeff Bagwell at first now as that play was made by Bagwell as he saw Olmec getting off the bag a little bit farther back while she's running towards first base and calling for the ball [Applause] away from first base but it did look like he got his hand in there in time yep looks like Houston gets a big break on back home [Applause] Bagwell just trying to stay in the way so that wall mat can't get to the back but I thought you got in there another hard awkward slide Tony wall [Applause] when you hit a double and you slide in the second it feels when you get picked off a first base good point [Applause] now Metheny looking for his first RBI of this LCS he get another look so close and I've once again the umpire Eric Cooper trying to get into position to see but because of Jeff Bagwell's positioning on that bag I don't think he really had a good look at the tag [Applause] at 2nd two balls and a strike to Matheny [Applause] he's got a two in the inning two hits one left we go to the six two one ass road to one ball game at the end of five in Game seven of this National League Championship Series both starting pitchers throwing the ball very well here tonight Jeff Suppan for st. Louis Roger Clemens for Phil Garner's team they have locked up four times head-to-head this year and Suppan has not won once in the prior form eating soup on back out on the mound here too it's the sixth inning he probably would have been taken down for pinch-hitter certainly would have been taken down for a pinch-hitter picked off first base in athenian dealing with that flyball to centerfield it's a big inning for him to being a finesse type guy going through the order of Berkman Kent and ensberg all of them with power to hit the ball out of this park whoa wonder bergman got it in a bowl a strike 88 pitches for Suppan only allowed three base hits his last start in Game three he allowed only five hits in six in it Berkman chases the pitch up and it's out of play the Astros have hit 25 home runs during this postseason only two shy of the San Francisco Giants will hold the postseason record with 27 in 2002 when they lost to the Anaheim Angels in the World Series in 17 [Applause] Bergman has four postseason home runs tardy on that fastball lifts it down the left-field line so Bernier the stands and runs out of room you would have lost a lot of money if you would have thought the Houston Astros were going to a postseason about the middle of August they had six teams ahead of them in the National League wild-card race they went 36 and 10 over the final 46 games they were picked before the season ever began to content with the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central but the Cardinals ran away with the division winning a hundred five games during the regular year [Applause] the Astros lost two of their top starting pitchers due to injury during the season Andy Pettitte and Wade Miller but here they are in a lot of ways are quite similar to the National League champion Florida Marlins of 2003 started under 500 in Florida before Jack McKean took over and then got red-hot the Astros a 500 team Phil garner took over got red lock [Applause] riah to to Lance Berkman I'm loving this at-bat by Berkman right now swung through a bad breaking ball for the very first strike and since that time he's been found the fast balls off and spitting on all the bad breaking balls in the dirt just like that right off the Feeny's helmet now he's worked himself to a three-two on every pit [Applause] we talked to Jeff Suppan about how he prepares himself for this big postseason Scott one way I do I try to train myself is through visualization it's a technique that I learned through just reading books or talking with people where you you see yourself in a situation in a moment during the game or actually you can watch somebody else throw for example I could be watching woody throw and I could see myself or see how he's attacking and visualize myself doing it Jeff Suppan one of the most likable people to wear a major-league uniform I mean he is just a delightful young man when you think about the talent level in the major leagues it has to be something else that sets guys apart and the mental part of the game is so important my flyball Chandru to play pool alone [Applause] yes youth on got the start finish off the Dodge National League Division Series allowed two hits two rods got the law who the ball very well three of associate five base hits and only three one too much for the Cardinal offense just the ability to focus to concentrate walk out the distractions [Applause] in here tonight [Applause] - longboarding you climbs the hill last to the six inning Game seven of this National League Championship Series and a pinch-hitter Roger Cedeno batting for Suppan there was talk Cedeno might get the start in game three against Clemens and the numbers would certainly tell you that's not a bad idea Chen hits at 24 at bats against Clemens in his career [Applause] so Daniel terrific outing for Jeff Suppan and this postseason [Applause] it wasn't difficult Jeff Suppan we didn't see a lot of ground balls like you normally see when he's on the mound but effective nonetheless Kiko Calero we'll come on in the seventh-inning [Applause] - Oh nan said an yo and about yo kid [Applause] thanks edenia does a great job up there especially against a guy like Roger Clemens I'm not trying to do too much put the ball in play get a good hard pass out it let it go or wants to in this case to the right of Jeff Canton up the middle for a base in [Applause] for some hitters when [Applause] there in front of swinging even harder can fly over first base five out of six in stolen base attempts this year as a part-time player has had some big stolen base years in his career stole 66 for the Mets back in 99 [Applause] Rousseau told us before the game that Clemens doesn't like to do this he doesn't like to worry about the runners doesn't like to feel punts wants to get out there on the rubber and do what he does best doesn't like we talked about pushing he said they were going to push last night and they did that they were going to push even more tonight when they have the opportunities they couldn't ask for a better opportunity that is right here and when Toria the and he squares no activity in the Houston bullpen talk to Phil garner before the game he said his first option unless Clemens pitched through 8 now to leave then you hand it to Brad Lidge would be Roy Oswalt after Clemens the only problem with that if if Clemens would happen to get in trouble in a hurry Roy Oswalt is going to take a lot longer to get ready than a relief pitcher he's used to a routine picture will probably take more pitches to get ready take so if Clemens would happen to get jammed up in this inning I would look for him to go to one of their relievers the pitcher spot due up third next inning for the ass walled into the ballgame unless you double switch [Applause] and again he squares Roger Cedeno is first-base taken little fake jab steps I think just to see if Clemens can actually see if Clemens isn't even looking at the runner on first base watch the Danielle they'll jet he wanted to see if Clemens can see him Clemens isn't even looking at him he's looking straight ahead almost right over at the third baseman before he goes and delivers to the plate even when he throws over to first he's just turning his five to his first baseman 52,000 and in Busch Stadium [Applause] [Music] [Applause] we talked about it earlier when Carlos Beltran reached on the one out walk and ended up scoring house key changes the you see this game pimple [Applause] [Applause] we're going to honor back out of play more than any other hitter in his lineup Tony LaRussa likes to play hit and run with Renteria at the plate [Applause] you see Cedeno peeking back toward home plate which is usually an indication that it was a hit and run on a straight steal the player will generally just focus in on second base and go as hard as he can with his head down on a hit run they want to take a peek back as that ball enters the hitting [Applause] Mariya showing bunt there as clemens steped off the back of the rubber but renteria such a heads-up player when he that could've been a decoy puts the bunt down Clemens dancing the time listen wife Edgar Renteria has made himself so valuable good hit and run guy now they asked him to go ahead and lay the bunt down he deadens it right in front of home plate make sure that the only play is the first and you moved the runner up anytime he's sent a hit her up that can do that many things he can drive a ball out of the ballpark hit a gap [Applause] then if we ask them to drop down a bunny can do that too that's a guy that's going to be number one on their list to re-sign for next season one at second base [Applause] last cola Lovins missing up in the strike zone for the first time all night with both breaking balls and fastballs here in the six inning and still no activity in the Houston bullpen Walker might start getting a little [Applause] [Applause] I again Biggio led off the game of a home run Houston made it to nothing on a walk a stolen base by Beltran he scored on a throw [Applause] suicide squeeze bottom fell out of that pitch 2 and 1/2 Walker [Applause] took a little bit off of that fastball two seamer ran it away from Walker he's been trying to keep the ball away from him for the most part in all of his at-bats but remember in Game three the home run that Walker hit off the clemens was to the opposite field on a ball away from it women's okay's a sign roll her up the first baseline gets he out advancing on the third issue Daniel the tying run 90 feet away come shall be cool [Applause] it's fill corner coming out to visit with Clemens rather than pitching coach Jim Hickey remind you saturday Game one of the World Series from Fenway Park in Boston what two teams World Series Saturday 7:30 Eastern 6:30 central 4:30 Pacific 81 pitches in the game for 42 year-old Roger Clemens tonight making his 30th postseason start he's won 328 regular season games in his Hall of Fame career [Music] this [Music] the entire infield gathered around walking on the mound Albert rules too time against the rocket with no extra-base hits Scott rolling me on 416 lifetime [Applause] was talking about Albert Pujols can do Morgan ensberg playing wave [Applause] this is week one the pool together potential MVP of this series known for his power has done a tremendous amount of damage witness power in a game like this you get runs home any way you can last fall Heine waiting in the cattle pool who has six home runs this postseason 13 runs batted in he has been the Cardinals best hitter the entire season he has been their best and most consistent hitter during this League Championship Series I went south when this series went south besides pool rip it a fastball still at 94 miles per hour though the question posed on the sign you saw a moment ago is a rocket out of fuel doesn't look like wherever Poole's presents such a challenge for an opposing pitcher the book on him is to try to get ahead in the count which Clemens did and then expand the strike zone but when you talk about expanding the strike zone on our pools you've got to put it a foot outside maybe 2 feet outside we've seen him reach out off the outside corner in this series and hit balls hard we've seen him golf balls out of the dirt we're seeing tomahawk balls up around the [Applause] in a second base bull Hall started [Applause] ball then up in this [Applause] same pitch with more location in that [Applause] gosh is it gone [Applause] lemons not making fastball after fastball and everyone thought that he may have Justin go to his breaking pitches later in he didn't do it the hurt or a spit sling comes up empty and we live against the troll they used to move man this st. Louis kid merchants top to bottom [Applause] one's going the leg [Applause] oh and to for me it really gets back to getting the leadoff hitter on base a guy with some speed and really changed the inning Roger Clemens was working in such a good rhythm get the ball and pitch get the ball and pitch Cedeno reached base suddenly Clemens had to distract his attention or behind [Applause] him out to annealing but the Redbirds strike Scott Rolen breaks a tie with a two-run home run in a 3-1 Cardinals SiC City right after pool halls had doubled on three pitches that he could have hit Roland sees the first one right down the middle and hammers it Tony LaRussa will hand the ball to Kiko Calero he had been scored upon and came to that Game four of this series yesterday of one-hit shutout baseball very well here in the postseason [Applause] Jose Vizcaino to lead it off little roller left side America's number one pregame show is back and the Sunday we take a look at the Jets best start in franchise history and their attempt and the Patriots winning streak Plus still bring down to get back in playoff contention Fox NFL Sunday returns this week noon eastern 11 one box look for Brad Ausmus to try to have a lengthy at-bat here I wouldn't be surprised if he steps out of the box a couple of times Roy Oswalt just began to throw down in the bullpen as this inning started in a quick one pitch out to this guy I know I don't know if he's going to have enough time to get ready unless Ausmus and the pinch hitter on deck installed for some time here pal Merrill has already come out there's a good chance now certainly I've seen Clemens throw his last pitch in this ballgame we watch them strike out Edmonds to end the inning baby the last pitch he'll ever throw in his Hall of Fame career lemons undecided whether or not he will return next year [Applause] 1 & 2 the count on Brad Ausmus [Applause] started to and laid off two balls two strikes top half of the seventh inning st. Louis leading Game seven by a pair so you need situation for Clemens talked about the great deal that he has pitching for his hometown team not having to go on the road all that often able to watch his sons grow up might win the siyoung award and then ride off into the sunset how many guys win the song and go away Sandy Koufax the only name that comes to mind in that category [Applause] nasty late-breaking slider from Kiko Calero a pretty good view of it that you would see as a hitter looks like you can hit it when you start to swing out drops off the table and ends up in the dirt and you look silly and everyone says honey to swing at that [Applause] mero a pair of hits and six at-bats in this LCS why do I [Applause] of all this right vecchio waits in the on deck circle Jeff Suppan again a terrific effort his third in a row in this postseason run a22 pound the late movement will make silly ball was in the with Mike Matheny had to reach across to make a backhand play right there roll up the first-base line foul [Applause] watching Royals while warming up down in the Astros bullpen it appears that he will be ready to enter the game your bat by Brad Ausmus and now Palmero [Music] sure he'll be loose as he comes into this ballgame those wolde the game force daughter series got knocked around he gave up eight hits in five Jenning and Palmeiro hit on the leg with a one-two pitch will bring Oh to the plate representing the tying run [Applause] we're really been all over the place he's thrown a couple balls way in the dirt that have been swung out an Apple way off the plate didn't calm arrow on the lake [Applause] the Cardinal bullpen sensational during the regular season [Applause] and Willie struggled in the first five games of this series a bullpen er a of over seven and a half then yesterday they got terrific work out of that bullpen Jason Isringhausen their closer gave up a run in the ninth inning which allowed Houston to tie the game but King Calero Isringhausen and Julian Tamar's allowing only one run in seven inning [Applause] dr. Tavares before today's ballgame about the treatment on that left hand takes a series of pain killing shots to on the top of his hand and one Vizio food on a change strike says every four hours that pain medication wears off and he tries to come back for Moyes they talked to his father about it his dad said it serves you right it should hurt his dad was very upset with him [Applause] Michiyo homered leading off the game he sent slide to left and struck out [Applause] what a big big batter this is right now for Kiko Calero the standing in the on-deck circle is Carlos Beltran [Applause] too short seventh-inning stretch time at Busch Stadium for two Cardinal lien we keep it right here for the singing of God Bless America performed by Busch Stadium organist Ernie Hayes rise sing along with Busch Stadium organist Ernie Hayes as he plays god bless america [Music] [Music] [Applause] or to st. Louis leading as the Cardinals come to bat last to the seventh inning Orlando Palmero remains in the game Craig Biggio is out go to the double switch and the national age only 20 winter season [Applause] these are his numbers in his career as a reliever he only pitched one game out of the bullpen this year [Applause] Rosewall is talked about having a tired arm here late in the year that was a 95 mile-per-hour fastball - Reggie Sanders [Applause] Sanders Womack Matheny in the live bird seventh-inning and lots of activity now in the st. Louis pen Valero got him through to seventh yeah built on Bagwell portman coming up in the eighth getting loose router to this guy you know Sanders retired it's October and the major league baseball postseason coming down to the wire every inning every game every play counts watch the World Series on Fox starting this Saturday don't miss it [Applause] Joe Buck and Tim McCarver will be on one at Fenway Park in Boston [Applause] go on a Tony Womack [Applause] slinging a myth while elusive with one world series titled on his resume course that was the World Series marred by the earthquake in Northern California in 1989 when the athletics swept the San Francisco Giants in four games - one - olmac revolves escrow this is a third time LaRussa has brought the Cardinals to the National League Championship Series he's yet to get him into the World Series 96a had the three games to one lead over atlanta they scored one run in the final three games liggett's Maddux Glavine and Smoltz and then they took a quick exit in 2000 against the New York Mets Boston v beam to Barry Bonds and the Giants in 2002 sharp breaking ball and Womack gone swinging two away it's a sharp breaking ball that's going to send some sharp pains into Womack's lower back take a big swing and miss you see the tumbling rotation you get out in front of your front foot I'll make your back hurt that's really the first breaking ball that Oswalt is thrown near the strike zone I think it was the fifth or sixth breaking ball he's tried to throw in this inning and the first one that he's gotten in or near the strike zone Matheny first pitch swinging in a fastball behind a strike preparing to come into the ballgame as a reliever is completely different than preparing as a starting pitcher when you can take your time most starters take 15 to 20 minutes to warm up before the game and as we know relievers have phone rings you have to get ready in a hurry it appears as though we will see Julian Tavarez in the evening Marlon Anderson a pinch-hitter stands in the auditor but we don't get that far into giving a very impressive seven throws well [Applause] Game seven of this National League Championship Series a Cardinals lead four games to two Houston jumped in front the very first batter of the game Craig Biggio led off with a home on down the left-field line then with two on and one out of the second inning the defensive play in a Serie A suicide squeeze producer Cardinals first run and then just over the left-field wall brought in fools who had tie the game with a double and that's where we stand at the end of seven Julian Tavarez takes over on the mound he came out of the bullpen and out of Tony LaRussa's doghouse yesterday his two perfect innings had got the win in Game six [Applause] Carlos Beltran got him for a home run in Game four to break a 5/5 walk two batters get about it so upset the dog out pitching non pitching left hand broke two bones in a lefty and then got fined $10,000 by Major League Baseball when he threw a pitch around the head of Jeff Bagwell they had built [Applause] Alaska Red Sox Alan reverse the reverse thing this time Boston to the eliminating of the Yankees that's a World Series the Fall Classic returns Saturday on Fox 7:30 Eastern 4:30 Pacific that sucks just waiting to fight out into the face [Applause] Houston a feeling now Jeff Bagwell's over three [Applause] housing begins to throw in a cardinal bullpen [Applause] Julian Tavarez had an outstanding regular-season pitched in 77 games with eternal on average at 2.38 this was his roll all year long [Applause] two balls one strike two Bagwell Tony LaRussa told us before the game he was unhappy with the actions of Tavarez but also said it was the first time he'd done anything like that for this club this year and he said I'm not going to waste or wash away six and a half months of good for one bad thing [Applause] of course you never know what might happen down near the bottom part of the this is such a big inning for the coitus if you retire Berkman here to the bottom pointed out ornaments done very little damage hi or LCF [Applause] and other than my clam they really have no power available off the pinch pinch-hit for some of those guys on both in the last Morgan ensberg single into left field back in the fourth inning Houston has had only one baserunner since and that was a two strike pitch that hit Orlando Palmeiro in the seventh-inning Cardinal pitching lights out here tonight so far [Applause] - one of workman knocked down by timorous picking it up Renteria he has the pokeball [Applause] Lauren Anderson to bat for Julian tomorrow first pitch swinging [Applause] comebacker just catch the glob there Julian Tavarez see how swollen his hand is just an instinctive play sees that ball headed back up the middle tries to knock it down fortunately for him not dead on contact but what a great play by Renteria the their hands strong throw in the dirt who hold with the pen [Applause] now Renteria looks down upon [Applause] every situation executed to perfection dropping this ball down to the left the pitcher have to field it allows Marlon Anderson to walk the third-base [Applause] metal baseball which is what they've done all season long made their first error in the postseason tonight admins try to throw the ball the third-base I was a very tough air to take number nine spot in the batting motor tonight for st. Louis a suicide squeeze sacrifice by Jeff Suppan a pinch-hit single on our own by Roger Cedeno and Ella pinch-hit double by Marlon Anders [Applause] strike one from those wall Cardinals trying to tack on one more give Isringhausen more breathing room in the ninth [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] welcome back to say get them on get [Music] much to get the ball through to the left of Jeff Kent distracted both the right side infielders as it gets through into right [Applause] breaking ball rolled over foul by pools who tied the game with a double down the left-field line two out in the sixth Senate score the go-ahead Ronald one by Scott Rolen [Applause] missile in a center field a base yet Sam Albert here Christian he has a built-in advance [Applause] the dog out in plaza de video world his elastic band what the pitcher is doing to the previous at-bat and he delivered what was then the Roger Clemens he obviously found something other video he like two more hits in a game at a covered pool host when he goes back to that video room especially this season saw something - to tie in a six in it with a down the left-field line DoublePlay ball here miss Connie no Kent in the inning the Astros come to bat in the ninth in a game 7 on the National Championship Series Jason is ring out top of the ninth inning Game seven of this National League Championship Series and the Cardinals playing on their closer who has struggled in this postseason and in particular in this league championship series and he's coming off a three inning mounting his longest of the year in Game six yesterday which was the 81st appearance of this season the highest in any year before this was 68 uncharted waters here he was unscored upon his first three games into Celsius games one he gave up the three run home on a Jeff Kent ending game five three outs away from the trip to the World Series with the Boston Red Sox [Applause] first pitch swinging Walker a long watch it a sliding graph it didn't look like we're getting Walker playing very deep respecting Jeff kids power too my has to go out there [Applause] pop up at the wind pushing that ball further towards the foul line it once again with those back spasms Tony Womack really showing us something here tonight [Applause] Womack has a World Series ring as does left fielder Reggie Sanders both with your 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks [Applause] flyball into left center in the World Series [Applause] chili Davis [Applause] and of course it was [Applause] locked up with the Boston Red Sox in a seven-game World Series the fan base of the two franchises that could meet in the World Series Red Sox Nation and these rabbits st. Louis Cardinal fan on the ground a second are going middle year for the same rulers car pick by Moe's to finish a distant third [Applause] during the regular season the Dodgers have a division and a seventeen thriller over Houston and the LCF the celebration is on in Saint Luke they have been the best team in the national legal and will represent the National League against Boston classic starting said [Applause] this feeling by Brendon for the way they finished strong the way they organization here in this [Applause] season four Tony Larusso [Applause] Tony LaRussa's had his share of critics here in st. Louis they brought him here [Applause] they reach the LCS three times losing three time [Applause] all game of this [Applause] st. Louis cafes in a city has it perhaps now he knows the feeling of herzog it's so many before him called the st. Louis Park organization [Applause] Scotland will get his first taste [Applause] so mike matheny two very deserving players hard-nosed rugged and play the game the right way [Applause] let's go downstairs to a lengthy celebration congratulations you're going to your first World Series one exciting while assistantship time in world talk about the know when you came to this team during the year you were I guess they learned that how smart a baseball team this was we saw small boat we saw Powerball you're in the big seer father here we go guys talk about facing the Boston Red Sox well he's gonna be a challenge obviously - hi - coming back after being down on freaks but we're looking forward to enjoy tonight and then make our way there alright thanks Larry Walker with Tom Chris thank you very much we're going to take a quick timeout more celebration as well as the trophy presentation the Cardinals are National League champions four games to three over Houston five to our fighter family celebration in st. Louis [Applause] thanks Tom the celebration continues you're not kidding family celebration Scott Rowland's life is here and there there Freya's trillions of Laura's is hugging her pregnant with their first child Scott congratulations from her stuff Megan to the world malicious everybody's here we're never gonna forget this moment you grew up in Indiana Cardinal fan right he used to come to the games as a kid I mean you ever imagine that hey you'd be hit the home run helping the team get into the world sir you never had things like shaggy you go out there and the World Series and you talk about the it bad and the big hit off Roger Clemens two-run homer I care about I really remember much of it and I saw the ball over the plate and you know it came off the bat well and can you talk about this season 105 wins then getting in people still questioning whether this team could make it to the World Series or not the tough battle the Astros gave you yeah you're going to mean the Astros losers that's a group of professionals in the biggest plaque that class action baseball battles they know how to compete that's his competitive group they're great professionals in [Applause] good luck to you in the fifth hippo at the World Series all right Scott let's go back up to Tom Chris thank you congratulations Scott more st. Louis Cardinals will have the trophy presentation in a moment [Music] celebration continues at Busch Stadium in st. Louis and muggles fly to others in Game seven of this National League Championship Series and standing by the Pardo Clubhouse for the trophy presentation let's go downstairs to Steve Lyons hi Tom thank you very much joining me here on the podium is Bill Giles who's the honorary national league president to my right is mr. DeWitt who is the chairman and CEO of the st. Louis Cardinals to his right the senior vice president and general manager Walt Jocketty and mr. Giles you have a piece of hardware to present to mr. to win that bears your father's name the Warren C Giles National League championship trophy fantastic series I mean the whole postseason has been wonderful we set an all-time attendance record in baseball and this series was just wonderful both teams played very very well and your great organization wanted so I'm honored to present this trophy named after my dad who is a good friend of your dad's the Warren Giles trophy to the st. Louis Cardinals the 2004 national league champions thank you very much bell accepting this on behalf of the great fans of the city of st. Louis this is unbelievable this is baseball country and then no 50,000 are still out on the field waiting for this presentation to take place I think it's been a long time since 1987 that you've been able to show the world that this is baseball country tell me a little bit about what it means to have your saying Louis Cardinals back in the World Series all this tremendous you know this is our fourth trip to the NLCS and we prevail this time what a great team a magnificent team we 105 wins after being picked to finish third in the division we beat LA and we beat a great Houston team so we couldn't be more excited or proud about from proud of our guys enjoy that go get that trophy well let me talk to mr. Jocketty over here Walt oh I got you when this season ended last year you knew that you had a lot of holes to fill in that lineup you go out and sign Reggie Sanders you get Jeff Suppan you get Larry Walker the trading deadline did you have any idea that this team would be put together as quickly as it was and now you're in the World Series what stable we had a lot of holes to fill you said we made a couple of trade sign a few guys and we didn't really know till we got to spring training what we had but once we got to spring training we saw that Chris Carpenter was healthy that what we had was soup out on marquee and with the bullpen and Tony and his staff did an outstanding job this year putting it all together and it's just been it's been a fantastic year and it's it is a great bunch of guys I've been around in this game I've been in a long time but it's only appropriate that they get a chance to play in the World Series excellent job congratulations let's get your manager in here Tony LaRussa Tony congratulations going back to the World Series you were in it won it in 1989 describe the differences between that team you had there and then going to another World Series with these st. Louis Cardinals I don't know you know this group a lot of these guys have missed twice they're cut third time was a charm you know it's very disappointing every time we lost and to go against the Astros to pull it off so I grade me you can't describe how great it feels and we'll be ready to play Saturday talk a little bit about this series in the great baseball that was played and the fact that the Houston Astros put on a tremendous show against you guys yeah I think I mean you could replay every one of those games they played a game exactly like we do they make plays they take great at-bats their pitchers compete I'm asked why that games so close we do that every you know 18 times a year so we have the utmost respect for them and sometimes when you when you do that you beat a club like that even means even more this guy standing next to Albert Pujols has been named the National League Championship Series MVP I want to ask you a quick question about Albert before we get to him we said before you've managed a lot of great players is this the best you've ever managed I always asked Albert kicked out and wouldn't be introduced to the guy that taught him out of play because I heard him do it but he knows how to play this game a great player Albert you know you've this is your third trip to the National League in the playoffs your first two trips you're okay this year monster numbers you had 500 for the series four home runs you're the MVP of the series is this a dream come true for you fingers I definitely definitely say everybody little boy dream by that you know I'm glad I got the MVP but that trophy is gonna stay in this Clubhouse because everybody here are the MVP you know and that's what it's all about it's about teamwork we came through with it all year long we did in the postseason and thank you to the lawyer you know we didn't from 52,000 people are home talk about a little bit about the about where he had to double against Clemens we surprised that how many fastballs you see from Rogers in today's game well it was in mind you know that's why I write had been so successful in his career because he don't pitch the same way you know if you face in Latin we facing that swing he throw letters played a lot of sliders and we knew here he was gonna change something he was throwing a lot of hitters and our bad I just want to get get a good pitch to me and try to put in play and hopefully tie the game I attend the Lord we came through you talked about that trophy mr. Giles you have the National League championship trophy for the MVP for elder hopeful you're an awesome player I've never seen a young hitter as good as you are thank you congratulations and go beat the Dark Knight American leaguers really Albert one more question before we let you go we know you've played in Fenway Park but now you get the Red Sox for real and you know in World Series your thoughts about facing the Red Sox it won't be easy manga me they got Pedro they got Lowe they got a royal they got shilling I mean Warfield and they got great hitters you know I got a lot of good friends over there Dave your team on Ramirez hang on it's great to play against those guy you know being in the Dominican this is a dream but that still you have a good team over there you need to respect those guy go play our best because they're gonna be ready for us and hopefully you know we can we come through Alba congratulations go enjoy the celebration with the rest of your teammates and this guy's going so good he named Curt Schilling as the number four starter for the Red Sox guys that send it back upstairs you Steve thank you so much a producer of tonight's game Jeff Gallen our director Jim Lynch our Associate Producer Carol Langley McDermott the associate director Eric pilling Meyer our broadcast associate Zack fields and our technical producer dan wrote on say our technical director Jeff Butler our audio mixer Jeff Cohen we can't say thank you enough to our crew that's work clothes to go stay in a day out bringing you this National League Championship Series guys you're the belt the senior producer of Fox Sports is Bill Brown our executive producers David Hill for steed lines Bob Bradley Chris Myers and our entire crew top renovage saying thanks so much for joining Jeanne Zelasko and Kevin the Fox Network center the Cardinals meet Boston in the World Series Saturday

Channel: MLB Vault

Views: 116,048

Keywords: Major League Baseball, St. Louis Cardinals, メジャー, Baseball's Best Classic Games, ヒューストン, Houston Astros, メジャーリーグ, アストロズ, 野球, 大リーグ, 野球速報, セントルイス, カージナルス, セントルイス・カージナルス, ヒューストン・アストロズ

Id: PmMWXK7z31I

Length: 151min 22sec (9082 seconds)

Published: Wed Sep 22 2010