2006 NLCS (Cardinals @ Mets) Game Seven

take a look at the lineup for Tony LaRussa Eckstein leads off he's the shortstop prescient Ben Wilson is batting the number 2 spot than Albert Pujols hits 3rd cleaning up Juan Encarnacion and right Jim Edmonds in center Scott Rolen is in the lineup tonight at third base Yadier Molina bats seventh Ronnie Belliard at second base and Jeff Suppan is pitching and batting ninth Oliver Perez makes the start for the Mets on short rest and misses high with ball one they are the numbers from game four of victory he was good not great five earned runs on nine hits and under six in one ball one strike [Applause] Green and Beltronics beltron one out the NLCS is brought to you by Budweiser select brewed longer for a bold taste that finishes clean expect everything the Mets do not know what to expect out of Oliver Perez but he has taken care of the Cardinal lead off hitter David Eckstein and now Preston Wilson who was a lifetime 310 hitter here at Shea Stadium takes on the 25 year-old Lefty [Applause] [Music] only five pitches but so far Lorenza sharper than he was the last time out to our [Applause] Oliver's pitcher profile is brought to you by Exxon and Mobil retailers Jim Tracy is the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates we talked to him about two hours before game time he said Oliver Perez must not fall toward third in his follow-through he's got to stay locked in on Paul lo Duca and he is anything but afraid one RBI in this NLCS for Albert Poole says we play in this seventh game Oh into if Perez is a guy he has to get locked into rhythm and if he does and continues to throw this velocity it could be a long night for the Cardinals [Applause] Delgado [Music] drops it it's a fair ball and pools will end up at second base right out in front of the plate low Duke estate away right was in the neighborhood Delgado tried to make the play and could not whenever you see an infielder turn the club over he's going to have a tough time with the ball I can't read it whenever you try to catch a ball like that see basket style that first baseman is not conducive to doing that that ball bounced out by a good margin then Delgado and hid his pairing it's up on second base see him not hustling out of the box he would not have gone farther than second base on that play that's where he is with two out and Encarnacion strikes one strikes rather swings and fouls it now in ko nación has the chance to do what the Cardinals could not do last night when they ended up leaving the bases loaded in the first inning trying to get on top and take advantage of that error by Delgado just missing one ball one strike one after that play right there Perez just wants to get back on the mound and do what he did to the first two hitters go right after me even beat pool holes on a good pitch there to pop it out he felt like he should have been out of the inning but now he's got to bear down and go right back after this guy Encarnacion six out of 20 in his career against Oliver Perez pops it up out behind the second base position grain and a good job by Perez to get around the to out error now the meds come on bottom of the first no score take a look at the Mets lineup it's the same group in the same order as Willie Randolph is put down on paper night after night Reyes lo Duca Beltran at the top Delgado ripe green in the middle Valentin and Chavez before the pitcher Oliver Perez [Music] in the middle of all the action is Jeff Suppan who was terrific in Game three eight innings no runs three hits and his pitcher profile is brought to you by Exxon and Mobil retailers fastball on the cutter the cutter will run away from a right-hander from Suppan and in on a left-hander curveball changeup he pitches to contact that means he doesn't strike out a lot of batters and pitching with the world of confidence strike one from Suppan who has made against game seven start he did against the Houston Astros back in 2004 he was the winning pitcher taking on Roger Clemens went on to the World Series and were swept by the Red Sox that strength to on Reyes you know Tim we used to talk about pitching the contact he tries to stay away from the middle of the plate he keeps the ball in the middle of the plate that's where he gets hurt Suppan is at his best when he's throwing pitches off the corners a little bit and up and down in the zone that changed the hitters eye level big night last night for Ray is 3 for 4 with a home run two stolen bases to the shortstop X time out at first one away and the batter will be lo Duca who was part of that group and a chance to catch the pop-up by albert fools and after the Mets came off the field David Wright doing a lot of the talking with Delgado and sandy Alomar after this point you could see Perez with his left hand cuffed around his mouth he was calling Delgado all the way and that is old-school baseball for the pitcher to take control of those situations now God will put his hand up but the res making sure the right guy attempted to make the catch and just drop it lodukku takes a strike you know a lot of times with this crowd so big as it is it doesn't matter if you're standing right next to a player you have to use your arms or you know waving in the air because you really can't hear at times out on the field one on bases empty oh one pitch one ball one strike Suppan is making his eighth career postseason start he's three and three including that game three wind back in st. Louis a 5 to nothing victory where he was dominant just a 12 game winner during the regular season 1-1 pitch - Rowland gets a nice hop up into his gut - out here's Oliver Perez once again with his hand up and Carlos Carlos nobody could hear you but you yell anyway Delgado is on deck and Beltran digs his way in he's done in this series and at the bottom when he's done this postseason strike one from Suppan eleven career postseason home runs for Beltran and only 21 games seven of those eleven against Cardinal pitching three in this series in Anthony's it's Owen too the LCS career numbers for beltron against the Cardinals are staggering 362 average seven home runs nine RBIs nineteen runs it's backed up on the count here on two with two out nobody on breaking ball and Beltran checks a swing that's a good Oh - enticing the beltron out of the strike zone and they'll try to almost bit good pitch by Suppan with two out Beltran takes ball two the opposite way pass rolling in the left Preston Wilson will make the play beltron digging for second and he is safe with a double excellent base running by Beltran with two out running hard out of the pots nice hitting going the other way parted out of the box and watched the slide to the right field side of the bag and that's why it was safe at second and not out good throw by Wilson watch the slide to the outside part of the bag and the tag is late by that much the inning continues for Delgado what helped him get that double was he was thinking double right out of the box there was no hesitation when he was leaving the batter's box Delgado was oh-for-three against Suppan in Game three and Molina goes out to talk now that the Mets have a runner at second is they will make sure on their signs in its our MasterCard keys to the game here in Game seven the bets didn't do that at the top of the first inning had a chance with Pujols on at second but Willie Randolph's management of the bullpen imperative but if Oliver Perez grows and the succeeding innings like he did in the first you may not need the bullpen early reading around a two-out error by Delgado Delgado trying to put New York out on top takes a ball inside struggling David Wright on deck Delgado in this Park during the postseason has hit 429 with three home runs talk about that cut fastball earlier that's what that cutter does goes in on a left-handed hitter acts like a slider but it's actually a fastball delgado takes a strike over the outside corner good pitch [Music] two hits allowed in 38 at-bats by the cardinals with runners in scoring position and two out during this postseason and both came last night in the same inning in that two runs seven big hit lo Duca the two-run single that made it for nothing offense held on to win it 4-2 think about that sequence two fast balls inside a regular one and a cutter then the fastball on the outside corner and then the curveball in a fastball count this guy could pitch Oh Calvin [Applause] delgado takes a walk it's up to david right [Music] the numbers during the regular season for this twenty three-year-old third baseman are terrific news me starting third baseman for the National League all-star team 311 for the year 26 home runs 116 RBIs so far in this NLCS hitting only 143 with one home run sometimes still it's how you make the outs David Wright is not putting the ball and play enough to right-field it's time to jerk everything when we do that to pull off the ball hit the ball at the end of the bat and not the sweet spot strike one these fans do not care what David Wright has done in games 1 through 6 he can come through here in game seven in the first inning and give the Mets a lead a little flair down the right-field line that ball is going to fall for hit Mets take the lead [Applause] well they didn't have this exactly in mine going to right field but certainly right will bacon jams on the pitch plays that irritating to a pitcher you make the pitch and it got just muscles it the other way I think what he did good there was he's kept his hands inside of the bar instead of trying to muscle it and pull it he just stayed with it it stayed inside of it was able to player it out in the right a chance for more now first and third two out Green takes a strike from Suppan a two-out double by Beltran a walk to Delgado and a flair hit to right by David Wright and a one to nothing Mets lead here in the first day one ball one strike [Music] great to rollin and the inning is over but the Mets as they did last night in Game six Beltran got it David Wright brought him home wounded up in New York after our second ending now one to nothing New York out in front and Perez back to work Edmonds rips one through the right side one pitch and a base hit Edmonds who homered against Perez back in Game four gets the single through the right side and the Cardinals put their leadoff man on with Rolen coming up there was a lot of debate as to whether Scott Rolen would be in the lineup tonight for Tony LaRussa did not look good last night for his first three advance got a hit off Billy Wagner in the ninth inning on a slider has had trouble with his bad left shoulder catching up to good fast balls this entire postseason Perez has a good fastball and Rolen pops it up shallow center for Beltran one on one out moving up one spot in the order batting seventh then he takes a strike but Joe that's what you were talking about with Scott Rolen though I made that pitch upstairs he just cannot turn on it and I think the frustrating aspect to it for LaRussa Rolen the Cardinals is it LaRussa and Rolen aren't speaking so LaRussa's going off what he sees from the dugout and video he gets after the game to determine whether rolling shoulder is okay for him to play but he's not getting it from rolling LaRussa thinks it's been the approach and his swing not the shoulder that tailed him back in this postseason but he's going off a judgment he gets watching from the dugout and on television which is hard to imagine but that's the way it's going now between those two here's a note to pitch one on one out daddy or Molina out in front of him notice how free Molina was and that slider that's the freedom that Scott Roland does not have with this swing right now breast rosette that ball right above the waist now that ball was out over the place but Scott has proven time and time again he can't get around on that pitch in the Mets obviously I was going to keep pounding him up not only can't do anything with the pitch but so far can't lay off the pitch no that's right well and not fouling it back and not only that this game relies a lot on confidence when a player has confidence you could loop a couple balls out there then all of a sudden you have confidence but when you're not swinging the bat wall and not getting hits it weighs on your mind a lot more here's a note to and a little flare down the left-field line this ball is trouble it's a base hit going first to third is Edmonds with good baserunning molina holds at first and it's first and third one out so like the Mets got in the bottom of the first a flare to right Molina gets off the hands as he drops it into left take more chances with one out excellent base led by Jim Edmonds the play right in front of him there's no reason to use at third base notes on that play Molina is slower foot stops it first this great base running by Edmonds there's a perfect example of confidence now he's 1 for 1 he feels good about himself going into his second at-bat in the night David Wright a flair to right exactly here's Belliard with first and third one out switch in the lineup with Belliard batting in the eighth spot ball one that's where Oliver Perez will miss when he's going orally and that's with Jim Tracy Tim talked to you about that pitch that drifts up and away that's exactly right when the front side bails out and goes toward third this is usually where that ball ends up the fastball up and away off the plate to Lou dukkha one ball one strike we may not have explained that Perez came to the Mets from Pittsburgh and played for Jim Tracy and as Joe pointed out that is where the problem lies if you see a lot of those pitches five six in the first three innings he's going to have problems first and third one out one ball one strike on Belliard bunching to the right side coming in to score is Edmonds and on basically a safety squeeze and a punt for the RBI from Belliard it's a 1-1 game that the difference between a safety squeeze in a regular play as the safety squeeze the runner doesn't take off until contact is gained on the ground Belliard pushing the ball to the second baseman and that was beautifully done with the pitcher coming up next watch Edmonds he doesn't break initially but waits until the ball is on the ground before he comes home so now it's Suppan runner at second two out and can you believe that a guy that just swung the bat like that homered in Game three he did off Trachsel I tell you for the Cardinals that's a huge confidence builder especially after the Mets scored in the bottom half of the first inning to come back and score here the second try to push that crowd back in a wall there's the home run from game number three for Suppan [Music] and the counseling too as it was when he homered against Trachsel back in st. Louis go ahead run at second Yadier Molina the outfield is shallow and Molina does not run well at all little did the Mets know when they made that deal Tim on July 31st with Pittsburgh basically to help their bullpen with Roberto Hernandez coming to the Mets but the guy they viewed as a project Oliver Perez would be on the mound for them in Game seven of the National League Championship Series unbelievable they have had to rebuild him fast and he ends the inning with a strikeout but the Cardinals in the second tie the game on the punt by Belliard and now with Valentin Chavez and Perez caught up with tied one for the Mets it will be the bottom three Valentin Chavez and Oliver Perez against Jeff Suppan we're allowed two hits a walk stranded a couple of won one game a sacrifice bunt for an RBI by Ronnie Belliard at the top of this inning and get it back even em7 from J and a tailing pitch doesn't tail enough ball one to Valentin Jose has really struggled down the stretch and since the 19th of September here at home at Shea hitting Oh 86 Belliard and Encarnacion and it's the taller end car nación who comes away with it one out and Valentin is three out of his last 36 here at Shea here is Jeff Suppan talking about trying to quiet his emotions for the start I think what happens as a starting pitchers you try to control that rush you know you try to make things simple you know basically when I go out there I concentrate on on two different types of things 1 1 pitch I'm going to throw and 2 where I'm gonna throw it and when I when you keep it simple like that it actually helps you control that rush that adrenaline he misses down and in ball one to Chavez almost like an NFL quarterback talking about controlling your rush but think about how simple Jeff has made it select the pitch and put it where you want to and I think it's a lot easier when you're a veteran player to control that because you've been in different types of situations with your younger pitcher it's a lot different Chavez fouls it back and Suppan has been in this similar situation albeit at home against the Astros back in O 4 when he made the game 7 start and a battle with Roger Clemens a victory for the Cardinals and now here he is two years later game 7 at Shea one ball one strike Chavez with one out takes ball two Jabez two pulls to the bag for out number two here the numbers from that game seven and Oh for Roger Clemens went six soup on line six soup on allowing just three hits was helped on a tremendous running catch by Jim Edmonds in center that night and against Roger Clemens one of the biggest blows was a home run that Scott Rolen hit to help the Cardinals to victory on into the World Series Oliver Perez hits it in the air to left to Preston Wilson then the Mets go in order in the second third inning top of the order will bat for each side this game tied 1-1 this city is buzzing talking about the Mets as David Eckstein takes a ball up and away to get the third inning underway Eckstein Wilson and Albert Pujols for st. Louis anybody gets on in Canarsie own to a no we talked about control for Perez it is an issue he averages 4.9 walks per nine innings pitched which is the third highest ratio among active pitchers in baseball finds the strike zone there two and one Pedro Martinez a huge loss obviously when he went down first with the calf and then with a rotator cuff that's really with one established starter this postseason and that established doctor by the way Tom Glavine was lightly tossing before tonight's game and may be available if the Mets need him to come out of their bullpen a 3-1 next time was taking a full count [Music] earlier this afternoon about two and a half hours before the ballgame Glavine just getting the arm loose 3-2 pitch Eckstein hits it down the line fair toward the corner and Eckstein will dig for second Chavez will dig it out of the corner and David Eckstein as the first extra-base hit of the night for st. Louis how about next time taking five fast balls and then he turns on one we talked about Scott Rolen earlier he can't turn him on that high fastball when David next time just turned on one for a double talking about all the injuries that both the Scott Rolen and David Eckstein hand with that left shoulder being prominent next time hurting is to throwing fingers the index finger middle finger on the right hand and his left shoulder now how will the Cardinals play with Preston Wilson runner at second nobody out full holes on deck and Wilson takes a ball inside I think too much power to bunt with him right here there's wookie Wilson the mooks turd ever-so-popular this ball one one ball one strike now the bad thing about not bunting is Preston Wilson strikes out a lot a hundred and seventy-seven times three years ago Wilson struck out his first time in the hole here one and two [Applause] good rip at a high delivery from Oliver Perez from Preston Wilson who as I mentioned is a lifetime 310 hitter here at Shea Park where he grew up watching his stepfather Mookie played for the Mets I think right now the most important thing for Preston is to try to move that Runner somehow to move X time from second to third so they almost have to pinch the pool's to combatant that Perez is coming inside on him back in there and Wilson strikes out one away new species will sit down on strikes his first time up on a similar pitch but clearly you could see Perez going when the basketball actually the breaking ball hit Wilson for the man fouls back up pitch an intentional pass being handed to Albert Pujols with first base open on deck is Encarnacion last night the Mets did this with Albert Pujols up in the 3rd inning left it to Edmonds and Encarnacion they could not come through the Cardinals left a lot of scoring chances out there early last night could not recover lost the game 4-2 and that's why these two teams are hooking up here in game 7 two on with one out and that was the importance right there Preston Wilson not being able to get that runner to third base because more likely than not Perez probably would have had to pitch two pulls with first and second base open well if you do decide to walk it you have the double play in order within turn a CO enough there Encarnacion has six out of 21 in his career against Oliver Perez and that's why he is batting behind pools to try and give him protection reg1 good slider out of the strike zone de producción one two [Applause] wins a game of the postseason he's got an army following two on one out Oh too pinched do it again does it take long does it little Elvis Costello reference Oliver's army and with Jim Edmonds on deck Edmonds has singled and scored the only run of the night for st. Louis and Grenache Iona's backed up on the count one to two on one out x9 and fools the runners spoiling the pitch is Encarnacion shattered bat right at third second [Applause] [Music] I'll walk to pool halls and the inning ender still won't watch top of the order for the mats here in the third inning Reyes lo Duca Beltran against Jeff Suppan won one in Game seven strike one [Music] Reyes gets under it flies it into right and Canarsie own drifting for out number one how about Saturday how about Game one of the World Series it returns to the Motor City for the first time in 22 years Game one on Fox Saturday night with coverage beginning at 7:30 Eastern 4:30 Pacific Jim Leyland has yet to announce his pitching rotation he is waiting to see who the opponent will be will it be the Mets and Willie Randolph or his buddy Tony LaRussa and the st. Louis Cardinals lodukku grounded out his first time up he hit it to third back in the first and it's at the third here in the third two out Carlos Beltran will be the hitter and he is Carlos your lucky night here our HP player personality you want to know more about Beltran childhood idol the late Roberto Clemente favorite actor Denzel Washington owns two toy poodles and has a 1969 Camaro HP the computer is personal again as ball one drift slow for Beltran its lucky night lucky night the world knows more about the center fielder for the Mets batting with two out and nobody on in a 1-1 game one ball one strike from Suppan Jeff Suppan is a 31 year old right-hander for the Mets are the only team in baseball that he's faced which compiled a lifetime the RA of under three and it's actually 1.85 in his career against the Mets two balls and a strike make seven starts a 4 and 1 record his team is 6 and 1 the Mets have had only 216 against Suppan those are career numbers he's behind on the count to Beltran two balls and a strike two out nobody on and that's a pop-up Preston Wilson and Louie it's a good game 1 1 is the score as we go to inning number 4 and Oliver Perez its back to work Oliver Perez went one in three with the Mets after they picked him up to intend to start the year with the Pirates so three and thirteen overall that big er al over six he's allowed one run on three hits and he starts Edmonds with a strike over the outside corner it's worth repeating and we talked about it during his first start and he was the opening day pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates the last two years so the talent was there if he can Corral it on the corner again its own two two breaking balls to Edmonds that's a tough pitch for a left-handed hitter cuz that breaking ball is sweeping away from that left Edmund sticks the bat out hits it to left Chavez Scott Rolen will be the hitter and we continue to talk about his inability to get on top of high fastball this is last night one after the other the one he caught up to was a slider from Kilauea during the ninth inning went for a double his first time up tonight he popped it into shallow center you have to believe she go back to that flyball to center that Perez will stay with the hard stuff against got rolling I would certainly think so especially after the double on the slider last night fighting off a fastball 93 miles per hour it's Owen too Tony LaRussa had other options he obviously had spiezio to start at third and he could have missed so Taguchi in the lineup tonight that was a consideration Tony telling us before the game because taguchi's been red-hot for for for this postseason with two home runs ball one guys I'll tell you I've had shoulder and elbow injuries to my leat shoulder hitting you find a way to try to get it through but you really when you cannot extend through that ball it's tough two and two 52 pitches through three and a third or straight high fast balls to Roland another one this one squirts away a full count now you only walk that Perez has issued tonight an intentional walk to fools last in it and worked for the Mets his Encarnacion followed with a double play ball gari doesn't left three the Mets have left two down the line but foul [Music] John Mayne who was the hero last night in Game six could not have given the Mets and their fans any more than he gave five and a third no runs on two hits another foul [Music] it's asking the home plate umpire Tim welke if f ball was inside I think you almost do roll in a favor when you're pitching him in like that because he doesn't have to try to extend he just tucks his arms in and just tries to get through that ball well the key thing is what the Mets are trying to do is to keep it up whether it's inside or outside all fast balls to roll it thus far Roland pops it up David right I think what you are about to see on our graphics is one of the most important statistics in baseball this year in the major leagues when the lead runner got on he scored 43 percent of the time with one out he scored thirty percent of the time and with two outs fifteen percent of the times a dramatic dramatic difference if you can impress that on young pitchers in the minor leagues that is so so vital to success in the big leagues strike one now to Yadier Molina so far the Cardinals tonight at 50% when they put their leadoff man on Molina with a base hit in the left his first time up set up first and third with good base running by Edmonds and then the bunt for a sacrifice by Belliard on a safety squeeze to tie the game at one good pitch from Perez 1 & 2 [Applause] [Applause] if you find yourself standing at home it's okay it's alright stay by the TV olena flare down the right-field line and Shawn green is there to end the inning who's coming up for the Mets Delgado pitching matchup Suppan on your left Oliver Perez on your right part of the order for the Mets here in the fourth inning starting with Delgado one one game and a breaking ball drops in for strike one if you count Spring Training these two teams have been pulling on their sanitary socks pulling on these uniforms running out on the diamond hit fielding pitching running for seven and a half months all with a dream of getting to the World Series and here are these two clubs of Mets and the Cardinals one went away a 1/1 score bottom of the fourth in a 1-1 count on Carlos Delgado so those of you who may not know what sanitary socks are they used exclusively in baseball and they're rarely seen anymore because the way the players are wearing their pants down low players refer to those as Santee's inside pitch soup on does not get it now that's the two-in-one variety that's the right right red stripe that's a part of one sock with the white around here's a 2-1 pitch to Delgado first up in the inning and that's low three and one we had a chance to visit with Tony LaRussa during the last break David Wright on deck and then Shawn green Delgado can sit on a pitch for the count his favorite three and one how to play full count see this is what makes Suppan such a tough pitcher he's changed speeds three on three different basketballs that he's thrown so it gives the hitter a different look and then he's thrown the change-up in there also so hitters are kind of trying to guess and gauge speed on the pitcher and he keeps continues to change it on him all the time he's tough to guess with a 3-2 pitch Delgado takes ball four here's our talk with Cardinal manager Tony LaRussa with Tony LaRussa assess what you're seeing so far from Jeff Suppan he is doing more of the same from Game three back in st. Louis well really impressive Joe and I grieve this more of what he did the other day just got to keep it going but he's moving the ball around his command has been excellent and that's what you mean against this team we have seen Oliver Perez hang in there for the Mets this is shaping up to be an exciting game what did you tell your team when you got him together last night after the game 6 loss well you want to be able to enjoy the seventh game that's a rare opportunity and fortune the way you enjoy it is to feel like you got ready and then you do everything you can to feel good afterwards you got no regrets it's unless something out so you know we're going after it right we get we have missed a couple of chances but I mean it's all ahead of us thanks for your time and good luck all the head of each team as the game is in the fourth first pitch is strike to David Wright leadoff man is on Delgado second time he's walked tonight Wright with an RBI base hit his first time up to the left side for rollin out at second and safety first Paul not hit sharply enough to turn the DoublePlay rolling backing up making sure of one ballet yards returned throw way late at first base Shawn green Hobson Shawn lined out to third with two runners on his first time up our horizon Wireless game summary David Wright an RBI hit Ronnie Belliard with a sacrifice bunt for an RBI the Cardinals won for their last 19 with runners in scoring position what a rip by great good fastball good cut David Wright at shortstop last night Carlos Beltran was on at second base and he had a tough time seeing the ball when it was hit it appears to me right now that Jerry Lane could be to the left of David Eckstein it would make it a lot easier to see the ball off the bat if once it is what check on the runner right now right is a stolen base threat he stole 20 during the regular season in last night Yadier Molina great arm and all allowed three Mets stolen bases part of their attack and therefore to win you don't want on the inside corner on two that's what right-handed pitchers have to do against this med lineup with six left-handers facing the right-handers that includes three switch hitters you've got to come inside for strikes if you don't you allow them to extend their arms and they wear you out Oh two breaking balls lowball one both in recent LCS history and World Series history 11 straight times when a home team has won Game six they have gone on to win Game seven one two pitch range strikes out foul tip hung on to by Molina to down the first strikeout for Suppan changeup so fastball away fastball inside curveball misses and Nava straight change when he's throwing right he can put on a clinic he is a nasty right-hander now balantine Willie Randolph has stayed with Jose Valentin throughout five out of thirty one this postseason all five hits coming in this LCS the dirtball want [Music] [Music] ball one strength with balantine out in front of that pitch Perez is through for Suppan trying to get there trying to keep it a 1-1 game Valentin rips it foul a lot of times when the pitcher is throwing all his pitches for strikes early in the count a hitter would look for a certain pitch but when Suppan is throwing the way he is right now throwing everything for strikes it makes it a lot tougher on that hitter to sit on one pitch right Yadier Molina going through going through signs as if there's a runner out at second base I was thinking the same thing that's because the television hit Valentin in the face I'll plate umpire Tim welke we'll get help right here from third-base umpire fielding Culbreath he was obviously hit in the face I think the ball hit the ground first in it looked like it happened so fast and Valentin spun out of there yep bounced off the dirt and then up into the mouth so Valentin will head down to first base with two on two out and now Andy Chavez Chavez so far is old for 10 with runners in scoring position this postseason and only 1 for 16 with runners on yet the Mets hope that nd Chavez the replacement for the injured cliff Floyd can deliver here in the fourth inning and give New York the lead strike one a light mist is falling here at Shea Stadium and there is rain on the way heavy rain and the Chavez gets under it pops it into right centerfield Edmunds calls for it the Mets have now left four we've played four games images tied at one back after this from your local Fox stations first pitch is strike two Ronnie Belliard is trying to get on in front of the Cardinal pitcher Jeff Suppan and then David Eckstein here in the fifth inning one ball one strike it's that rocking part to the delivery of Oliver Perez that the Mets have worked the most on with him we talked about his game four star not so much the mechanics within the delivery but how he starts it continue to rock on that back leg but rock in a balanced fashion the problem with that wind up is you become too quick with the front side it's the same thing for hitters growing and hitting are very very similar hitters try to stay close and soda pitchers Belliard grounds a base hit through the left side and the Cardinals put their leadoff man on here in the fifth inning and that will give Suppan a chance to punt or straight sliders and Belliard takes advantage of the fourth way binds a whole so it is paid off this little switch here at the bottom of the lineup for Tony LaRussa will lean up moving up a spot Belliard down a spot now the bunt by Suppan is perfect down to second is Belliard the sacrifice off the bat of Suppan that's his third of this series and the go-ahead run at second with one out here in the fifth Jeff Suppan has pitched eight shutout innings in Game three drop down to bunts in that game for sacrifices hit a home run toed the slab here tonight in Game seven he is working a strong effort here tonight one run on two hits through four innings and now he drops down a bunt to put Belliard into scoring position for X Doug there's not much more that Jeff Suppan could be doing for his team no guys when this game started we thought that Oliver Perez would be out there and the first sign of trouble whether it was the first inning or the second inning or the third inning activity would start for the Mets in their bullpen but that's how well Perez has pitched to this point they've been quiet out there all night that may change here in the fifth two balls and a strike now ah next time well nothing in baseball can quiet a crowd like good pitchy good numbers in his career viet unlimited work for Perez here J Eckstein hits it down the left-field line going to get it his nd Chavez and this ball is missed by Chavez had a shot at it could not come up with it the count 2 & 2 nice effort by Chavez didn't know where the wall was release you tell me I mean for most outfielders if there's a problem with the wall and the ball you get to the wall first right yeah you really do he went a long way to go get that ball put it hung up there long enough to where you need to try to get there as quick as you can to make that play especially in your own home ballpark and then you can always back up because you know where the wall is right Chavez couldn't get there to make the play and now Eckstein is hit by the pitch to send him down to first so mark that play down the left-field line Java is nearly coming up with the second out here in the fifth he can't make the catch on the foul ball and then Eckstein is hit on the edge of his left shoe to put you on here in the fifth inning well David next time like most of us has 20 digits 10 fingers 10 toes he's been a hit on two fingers and two toes in six games Roberto Hernandez is getting loose I just I was so interested to see where that was going when he started down that fast I was too Preston Wilson has had two at-bats he's up now and he has struck out twice tonight quick visit from Willie Randolph with Hernandez getting loose two on with one out and a breaking ball in for a strike from Oliver Perez on deck Albert polls Wilson chase did its own to another high fastball swung through by Wilson two out now what do you do Willson down on strikes for the third time the reason you asked that question is because Albert Pujols is digging in and Willie Randolph on the top step of the dugout is cheering on Oliver Perez realized that pool holes in his career against this left-hander 9 for 28 with 3 home runs Willie Randolph played a hunch last night with Mota against Chris Duncan and he plays a hunch here Oliver Perez and Albert Pujols strike one Willie Randolph saying at the start of this series you guys are going to be able to second-guess me all night long because there will be times where I do not go by the book he is not going by the book right now whole hulls pops it up Jose Reyes and Willie Randolph says forget the book he stays with Perez and this game stays to start the bottom of the fifth inning with a rain falling here at Shea Stadium soup on heels and a strike from the Cardinal right-hander the other story not just Perez but Albert Pujols who now has still one RBI in this NLCS we play here in Game seven coming into tonight he had been up three times in this series with somebody in scoring position he had walked all three times twice tonight he had walked once pitch doorman got him to pop out to short Preston Wilson goes back to make the play Perez is gone we talked with Willie Randolph about his 25 year old left-hander during the break told us this is gonna be a second guessers dream and you played a hunch right there I saw you down there cheering on Oliver Perez and boy did he come through for you against Albert cool well he competes man I don't worry about him going out to people every once while you make a mistake you hurt get hurt by a big boy like that but I've confidence in let's go get this guy your general manager Omar Minaya was impressed with the way that you managed the division series and you're letting it all hang out here in the NLCS talk to us about what went through your mind knowing that pool halls has had success against Oliver Perez well you just try to execute a good pitch I mean you know obviously is a great hitter but you're gonna give him too much respect you know he thought they'd find a great job and keep it in the ball game so I think my people and I just said listen to make it fit you know get this guy's this game has not let anybody down it's been a good one from the start yeah we need to go a few more runs it's just slightly exciting one but then one of things up strong game win it all alright Willie thanks good luck alright Willie Randolph the manager of the bench these two teams who went away from going to the World Series Reyes showed bunt on the first pitch from Suppan took a strike and now pops it up left centerfield and it's Edmonds to his right to out think it's interesting to compare the two pictures tonight and how they go about their jobs Suppan with a little bit of this a little bit of that moving the ball in and out Perez Powder River and a good slider he just challenged Albert cool here it is Albert hit it how many pitches in the National League do that there aren't many yet pool holes drove in 137 during the regular season a career-high 49 home runs and hit 3 in his career against that guy Oliver Perez finally got a chance with a couple of men on and popped up at the top of this fifth inning of Game seven keeping it 1-1 when I tell you now Z's in ease get later into the ballgame he gets more gut-wrenching for these ball players not only is every swing every pitch every play means so much but now they have to deal with the elements of rain out here lodukku chops it foul outside third and Bradford who's been busy in the series getting loose the weather aboard is that it's going to stay misty until 11:00 and then the heavy rain is supposed to come down at is 953 on the scoreboard clock here at Shea vo to lo Duca reaching for it it's tapped out the third twice Lucas man and himself right now trying to pull my ball away one of the better to strike hitters in the National League as thrown as any right-hander they're going to right field with two strikes at five home runs during the regular season Molina sets up out there and Suppan hits the glove it's ball one with the Cardinal dugout still one and two well that's what that does when a right-handed batter is good and adept at going the other way with two strikes the way to counter that is to come back inside good fastball tailing it on the hands of Luca under it into left centerfield Edmonds is back in front of the track and Wilson and Edmonds collide Preston Wilson made the catch and Edmonds is injured this game goes into the sixth inning another look at the collision the out and we're still tied at one how about the job tonight by Oliver Perez Bradford still getting loose at the first sign of trouble he figures to take over but right now it's Encarnacion and a strike on the inside corner remember Oliver Perez is a pitcher that the pitching starved Pittsburgh Pirates basically gave up on a twenty five-year-old left-hander who throws in the mid-90s members of that organization I'm sure at home watching thinking what did we do talked about Jim Tracy earlier I mean here's a guy 239 strikeouts two years ago sometimes pitchers present themselves as a mystery to an organization that came figured out have to be dealt Xavier Nady a terrific right fielder is when Pittsburgh he went over for the Hernandez and Perez deal looked like lo Duca had one come up under the mask and hit him in the throat now the ball bounces down and kind of crawls up the chest protector if you don't think that first I think just stuck there counts two balls in a strike at Encarnacion on deck is the left-handed hitting jim edmonds one away coming up on ten o'clock here in the East we are at Shea Stadium Game seven of this National League Championship Series Joe Buck Tim McCarver Luis Gonzales with you and it is our game summary brought to you by Nissan Jeff Suppan five innings two hits one run Oliver Perez has gone five and a third with a run on four hits allowed and Albert Poole hole still stuck on one RBI on that home run that he hit two days ago for this entire series and his teammates have pushed the Mets who sent a game that is on the outside corner according to Tim welke the home plate umpire and that's a different look right there I'll Perez drop-down sidearm to give Edmond to a different shop there you can see why Edmonds was upset and he had a few extra words for welke the home plate umpire after strike one one ball one strike well he started this series behind home plate and he will end it there the crew chief in this NLCS the one one on deck is rolling the bullpen is Bradford Bradford has handled Rowland in each of the last two games struck him out and got him to bounced into a double-play last night two on good pitch for Perez a breaking ball in a fastball count it really has Edmonds just totally to cuddle time called prior to the pitch ball three [Music] Edmond stays up there that's not a play and really that last pitch might be one of the few times that Perez has shaken up with Dukla to go to something else other than that he's trusted LeDoux kabhi hind the played on every pitch [Applause] go over it again says Oliver a one-out walk and we'll see if that's the last pitch of the night by Oliver Perez Scott Rolen is coming up Willie Randolph a chunk of the lineup card he's had Bradford getting ready now he's running out there not walking usually if a manager runs that last the pitcher how he feels will see if Willie makes the move how about Oliver Perez picking the sixth inning for his first unintentional walk and Randolph's gonna leave him in there well what's interesting is he talked to Oliver Perez but then he looked at LeDoux gazaís to see because the picture is always going to tell you he feels good but the catch is the one that really lets you know that's the worst thing that's a worst question a manager can ask you how is he throwing what are you gonna say but I get him out of here but Willie did he came out he looked at Perez and now he looks at LaDuke ax Paul takes his mask off and says okay go get him going after Scott Rolen and Scott Rolen hits one into deep left field [Applause] and each other's takes a turn doesn't play unbelievable [Applause] [Applause] have you ever seen better the more you see the replay of the catch by nd Chavez the more you appreciate how unbelievable this catch is to rob rolling of a two-run home run in the Cardinals of a two-run lead look where he takes off from he catches it and then it's a snow cone you see a lot of white coming down Corral's it and then has the wherewithal the throw to double off Edmonds unbelievable the double play 7 4 3 2 double off Edmonds and down Deltron as Suppan goes back to work takes a strike Tony LaRussa stuck when rollin tonight and rollin was literally inches short in left field of his first postseason home run since Game seven of the 2004 NLCS when he went deep off Roger Clemens you think about that whole scenario not only as Tony LaRussa snuck with Scott Rolen but Willie Randolph stinking with Oliver Perez after asking lo Duca and then the next pitch bang unbelievable play by Chavez in the double play aren't believable oh and two now is the count to Carlos Beltran ball one now Suppan has the task of going back out there after that heartbreaking catch for the Cardinals on the part of Andy Chavez and try to continue what he's been doing one run on two hits as he wins the sixth and a slow roller soup on two full holes one away here in the sixth inning so the meeting on the mound Randolph keeping Perez in the game [Music] back my Chavez and the best part about that play is Chavez in baseball you very rarely see a guy come out for curtain call on defense yeah usually it's for hitting the home run he not only got one he got two curtain calls in between innings oh it's a double play with one out nobody on Delgado lays off a pitch from Suppan [Music] [Applause] might have matched his career total at curtain ball breaking ball for a strike from Suppan to Delgado think back to Game one with cliff Floyd getting the start in left the strain left achilles would not let him continue Java has took over in the third inning he's been in left field since this NLCS he's been a crowd favorite all year long Willie Randolph saying I think my daughter wants to marry him she loves watching him play so much he's got a great throwing arm he hit over 300 hit his way on to this team with a good spring training and a change of attitude hitting the ball on the ground and using his speed and that play he just made in the top of his sixth thing has kept this game tied and worn del caño who has walked twice tonight it is interesting to note as the bass ball stays in on Delgado interesting to note that in each homage the move that Willie Randolph made in Game one is the only move that's been made of the first eight players the first eight bed players during the series delgado takes in the dirt three and one [Music] that's certainly going to be a play talked about for a long time for deer around New York forever three balls and a strike Delgado's sitting on a 3-1 delivery from suparn and taking strength to over the outside corner now Ghana thought it was outside home plate umpire Tim welke calls it a strike very close it looked like it had part of a plate now Suppan can come back with a curb or the fastball inside you gotta watch for the third time tonight save it right now it would be some kind of strength shown by Jeff Suppan if he could come back after watching Chavez pull that ball back into the park facing the heart of this Mets lineup and keep it a 1-1 game through six we've got Beltran on a comebacker he walks Delgado and he pitches to David Wright strike one that's been the David Wright swing throughout this series watch the frontside pulling off we mentioned it earlier you correct that by trying to go to right field that frontside just bail it over but low David Wright hit 26 home runs during the regular season but only five since the 29th of July including the postseason Bradford still getting loose rolling [Applause] and it'll be second and third [Applause] momentarily thinking about going the second base watch the head didn't tell it them but in my opinion he was thinking about perhaps going the second to cut off the lead runner but he elects to go to first gets unto the ball in airmails Albert pools he sees are thinking a second base or thinking of being robbed yeah about five minutes ago by Andy Chavez and left the error is the second of the postseason in this series for roland and now the Cardinals elect to walk Shawn green to load the bases a one-out walk to Delgado the throwing error by Scott Rolen on the ball hit by David Wright runner at second and two out at second and third one out about to be bases loaded one out with Jose Valentin coming up here comes Dave Duncan now realized Valentin is over 1 tonight hitting Oh a t6 coming in three of his last 35 now three of his last 36 here at Shea Stadium he struggled down the stretch but instead of going to a bat off his bench Willie Randolph will stay with Valentin with the bases loaded one out [Music] [Applause] what infielders think about in this situation has played DoublePlay depth however if the ball is not hit hard they do have the option of coming home it feels about half way now x9 backs up a little bit but if the balls not hit hard but where you can double up Valentin you do have a chance to come home with the slow put in Delgado Rowland had gone 25 straight postseason games without an error we made an error last night and he makes one here tonight bases-loaded one out Valentin bases-loaded one out Ballentine gets a rip Jose was signed by the Mets to be a bench player and that started this season with Kaz Matsui at second base with Ballentine took over as Matsui injured early and never gave the job back balantine fooled by Suppan strike two good curveball from Jeff Suppan [Music] [Applause] for one two Edgardo Alfonzo who is at the park the only met with a Grand Slam in postseason history one ball two strikes on Jose Valentin time called two out and a huge strikeout for Jeff Suppan the bases are loaded for Andy Chavez only two strikeouts on the night and boy they did ever come at the opportune time for the Cardinals another curve guess Valentin [Applause] and now Andy Chavez who is Oh for a lemon with runners in scoring position this postseason and just took a home run away from Scott Rolen at the top of this sixth inning he's looking for a two-out hit give his team the lead bases loaded facing Suppan Pop's it into centerfield Edmunds is there and Jeff Suppan with a phenomenal job of pitching around the error by Roland still tied 1-1 back after this from your local Fox station for the rain falling here in the top of the seventh inning a 1-1 game Bradford take silver so it's one one here in Game seven and yesterday in our open Tim we talked about John main in game number six and who in Game seven the answer was Oliver Perez and he was brilliant tonight just a sensational job by the talented left-hander backed up his start in Game four Yadier Molina first up took a ball from Bradford not only was he good but his new best friend is ND Chavez it will be Molina Belliard and then the pitcher spot or st. Louis here in the seventh that's inside again it's to know go Feliciano the lefty Guillermo Mota is the right hander indeed Chavez has about 57,000 new best friends that play here's a - OH Molina taking it's a strike to one out beyond Andy Chavez is the Cardinal bullpen as I look out there I don't see any action and there isn't anybody throwing even though Suppan is these third scheduled hitter here in the seventh so far Suppan has allowed one run on two hits just pitched around an error that's phone we invite you to watch the World Series on Fox starting this Saturday night I live for this will it be Mets at the Tigers or a rematch 19:34 1968 with a Cardinals and Detroit to to to Molina another foul lolene in a battle with Bradford Bradford has been busy he worked last night game six he worked in Game five the night before Sunday night and Game four he was in the game did not get in Game three pitched in game two he has been relied upon by Willie Randolph that's up and away and Melina's having a very good at-bat it's a full count eight pitch of the apat [Music] Damon right the third basement started this in bat off by being bored toward the hole thinking that Molina would hit the ball up the middle but as Molina continues to foul balls off in this area right here right has moved closer to the line to try to protect against the devil another three two and Molina off-balance hits it into the air - Chavez one fooled on the pitch Molina is gone and the batter will be Ronnie Belliard will be one and done for Bradford as the pitchers spot is due to lead off in the bottom of the seventh Suppan on deck Belliard takes a strike five home runs as a cardinal for Belliard eight with Cleveland they hit 291 picked up at the trading deadline by Walt Jocketty and the Cardinals to take over second base chops it over the head of Bradford tough play for Ballentine good play to out Ballentine with an excellent jump on that ball and he had a tricky in-between hop to handle right near the bag Bradford can't get to it he's the hop right there played nicely by Ballentine a travelers in-synch box score for the Cardinals the only hits there are four of them belong to Eckstein Edmonds Molina and Belliard who also has the only RBI on a sacrifice bunt a safety squeeze to tie it in the second Suppan strike one a bunt a strikeout for Suppan tonight a home run in game three against Trachsel soupçon Reyes to his left has time has a great arm and flips it made it awfully close as he goosed it over to first with the Cardinals go in order Suppan was hustling down the line time to stretch here at Shea Mets bat we're tied at one their last World Series against st. Louis was 1968 Detroit won four games to three they have never faced the Mets in World Series play two units and with their rotation whether it's Bonderman or per Lander Kenny Rogers or Robertson Zumaya coming out of the pens Fernando Rodney todd Jones closing or all the Thunder they have up and down that line up particularly at the bottom they will be tough for either of these two teams to beat starting on Saturday night Michael Tucker is announced as the pinch-hitter for Bradford and Aaron Heilmann gets loose to work in the eighth Tucker two out of five the postseason takes a breaking ball for a strike he got a big hit a stolen base and scored a run last night Detroit Tigers starting off the postseason with that loss to the Yankees they were prohibitive underdogs and now they'll be the favorite in the World Series starting on Saturday night a 1-1 to Tucker fouled up his front foot one and two there's no doubt that Detroit Tiger team is a very dangerous team and they're anxiously awaiting to see who wins this game and I would say guys at the layoff with the young power pitching that the Tigers feature and because they're young and because the season is so long giving those guys a chance to rest up the wrist of Zumaya to get healthy I know the layoff slows and they've stopped their momentum offensively but I think it gives them a chance to recharge all those young flame throwers that they can bring at either the Mets or Cardinals I agree with that the Chicago White Sox the reigning world champions had a five-day layoff last year before facing the Houston Astros when they clinched it against the LA Angels and now Michael Tucker having problems after fouling the ball off his right foot like the right end step but I think that rest is going to help the Tigers not hurt them the only tough thing out of that is that the players are anxious these guys have been sitting around there waiting this they want to know who they want to play so they're just sitting home waiting around waiting for one of these teams to get there they want him to show up in the city and let them know what Detroit's all about now the rain picks up here in the bottom of the seventh inning said about eleven o'clock that's 23 minutes away on the scoreboard clock the rain will pick up in intensity one ball two strikes on Tucker Suppan gives him the same pitch Thunder fouls it again Tucker then Reyes then lo Duca if anybody gets on Carlos Beltran Tucker fouls it out of play [Music] another one - hi - and - Willie Randolph has really kept his hands off this team tonight he has stayed with the same lineup throughout this series he left Oliver Perez in the game to get through six innings Tucker flies one in the air to Center for Edmunds and for a young manager and only a second year with a Matz's first try in the postseason he is really taking his hands off the steering wheel a little bit and let his guys go out and play not trying to make pitching change after pitching change a lot like he did in the division series against the Dodgers I mean you think about all the things that happened on that one pitch to roll in rolling having problems with the high fastball we've talked about it throughout the series he gets a a belt high fastball and hits it hard enough to be out but the sensational play by Chavez and the double play to ended unbelievable Reyes homered last night takes a strike over the outside corner and then I really credit Suppan coming back right after that yep issuing a one-out walk to Delgado pitching around the error by Rolen and with the bases loaded one out getting Valentin on a strike out the two out here in the seventh getting Chavez on a fly out to Center that was the key the Valentin strikeout but he was just there's his sixth inning and how it ended with Chavez getting under one to Center and guys I'm telling you up base this guy before in Suppan he he frustrates you as a hitter because at the end of the night you feel like you got some good pitches to hit and you don't get hits off the gun only to all night for the Mets lo Duca is open three and the eighth inning st. Louis will have the top of their lineup Eckstein Wilson and Albert Poole's Chris Duncan is lurking with Wilson the number two hitter in the inning coming up two bounces to Eckstein what a job tonight by Jeff Suppan could not be doing any more for the Cardinals it's the eighth inning now game number seven tied at one with the top of the order for st. Louis coming up now it's Erin Heilmann out of the bullpen for the Mets third pitcher of the night for Ray's six innings have run on four hits Bradford one perfect inning and Heilmann will deal with the top of the lineup for the Cardinals Eckstein has doubled and been hit by a pitch one for two takes a ball low Almond worked in inning last night allowed to hit struck out a batter the primary right-handed sent a man for Billy Wagner this season one ball one strike something to keep in mind it is raining lightly infield could be very wet on ground balls strike two on next time spiezio has come into the on deck circle with Wilson the scheduled hitter do it too Preston Wilson struck out three times tonight got the nod from Tony LaRussa struck out the first third and fifth two to pitch the opposite way for Delgado on the top of the egg and now spiezio will be the hitter for Preston Wilson spiezio early in this series put his name on the list of postseason stars out of nowhere although when you think about what he did playing for the angels back in 2002 maybe we should have expected what Spezia was done he was outstanding that postseason for the angels and he's been good this year for Tony LaRussa with one out this Museo is fooled on a changeup unusual for a pinch-hitter couldn't to come up and face a changeup on the first pitch but howlman realizing last night's game that's how they want a pitch to spatio always geared for the fastball and skips in there remember the last time spiezio was up in a key spot late here at Shea Stadium it came in game number 2 of this NLCS he hit a two-out two-run triple to tie the game in the seventh inning to that off Powter later had an RBI double and a run scored in a three-run ninth inning out in front of a changeup here it's 1 & 2 and that was the same type of situation is here threw him a couple change ups and Mota tried to come back with a fastball and that's what a spiezio hurt him tried to go away with the fastball the fastball stayed inside and that's the pitch on which he hit the triple I don't think you're going to see a fastball right here unless it's off the plate spiezio takes outside 2 & 2 on deck is Albert Pujols the reigning National League Most Valuable Player and a guy who had hit 49 home runs during the regular season has two this postseason one in the NLCS for his only RBI spiezio pool but he fouls it back part of the order will bat for New York in the bottom of the safe beltron Delgado and David Wright [Music] [Applause] Almond coming back with a fastball and look at mizuka wanted in a way it stayed inside well Duke appears into his dugout at Willie Randolph that's pitch to Albert Pujols who takes a ball low pool holes popped up with two on and two out in the fifth inning against Oliver Perez batting with a bases empty two out - a No and poor Laura is getting loose with switch-hitting beltron than the lefty Delgado the first two hitters scheduled in the bottom the same what'll it be on 2 and L all three is they're being careful the pools not only are they being careful but Luca every time he's set up he was setting up off the plate now the intentional walk sanghun one hand into pool holes tonight Encarnacion is coming up the matter in front of Albert Pujols tonight whether it's Ben Wilson or spiezio four strike outs the batter behind Albert Pujols tonight and Carr nación Oh for three and he's grounded into a double play and if it were anybody else there would be a pinch runner for pool holes but Tony LaRussa can't guarantee that this is not going to be a tie game pools remembered nursing a sore right hamstring he does not run fast changeup from hi almond strike one-on Encarnacion pulse is a guy that the Mets even with the bad hamstring are going to pay attention to over at first and Delgado comes over to talk to Kyle Minh foo Holt's stole seven bases was seven of nine in that category and if he is feeling like he can get a jump you will sneak up on in steal a base well with Delgado going out there that serves the purpose is telling Howland have an idea in making stop and penisy on went its own to [Applause] and cannot see on hit 19 home runs in his first season with the Cardinals has not gone deep in the postseason and has only two RBIs in this NLCS Tim said that grass is slick in the outfield a hard-hit ball it could skip get to the wall with pool holster runner at first the outfield playing in there no doubles defense their deeper than they normally would be strikes out [Applause] the big bats coming up for the Mets tie game a fitting this week Fox NFL Sunday returns for the doubleheader as the Carolina Panthers take on Cincinnati and Clinton Portis and the Redskins battle Peyton Manning and the Colts or other regional action it all begins this week with America's number one pregame show at noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific right here on Fox spiezio does not take over in the left instead to Gucci comes off the bench Bob at the number two spot and Suppan back to work beltron after a high delivery strike one 100 pitches on the night now for Jeff Suppan he has allowed one run on two hits Kenny and Flores the right-hander in the left-hander getting loose the ground screw came out with that diamond dust in there rakes before the bottom of this eighth inning and Suppan slowed him down he didn't want them to work too much on the mound where he clearly feels comfortable up and away two balls and a strike Billy Wagner getting loose for the Mets out of their pen three and one the Mets have not had a hit since the flare hit to right by David Wright for a two-out RBI in the first inning ideal hitting situation for Beltran [Music] and here's Delgado here comes Tony LaRussa he calls for Flores Suppan can be frustrated with this 1-1 game but should be awfully proud of the way he pitched here in game 7 Shea Stadium Flushing New York bottom of the 8th inning the Mets with their leadoff man on just after 11 o'clock here in the east and this you're just joining us nd Chavez did that hit by Scott Rolen instead of a two-run home run in a three to one lead it turned into an inning-ending double play Jeff Suppan brilliant tonight seven plus innings one run on two hits more walks including the leadoff walk here in the eighth and two strikeouts these two teams squeezing every bit out of this NLCS that they can fighting each other for the chance to face the Tigers in the World Series starting Saturday night go ahead and run it first nobody out Delgado up against Randy Florez ball one a light mist falling here at Shea Stadium is Delgado almost walked right into that pitch one ball one strike no gato with or postseason home runs three of them in this series against the Cardinals Bell trying to mild threat to run a say mild because he has a small tear in his abdominal wall that slows him down a bit 18 stolen bases and 21 tries during the season doubtful he'll be running with Delgado up there may be right but not Delgado two for two this postseason stealing bases draws another throw strike two on Delgado first pitch from Flores up and in then a strike that one back inside and the count one and two they'll gato lays off two and two [Music] oh god Oh literally throws his bat at the ball and fouls it to stay up there it's the only way you're gonna make contact on this pitch look at the break on that slider Delgado staying alive that ball was six to eight inches outside and about Mitchum David Wright plays batboy and brings a towel out to Delgado to wipe down the bat efforts skipped across this wet grass [Applause] runner at first nobody out Delgado swung miss and struck out one away Randy Florez went right back out there at least as good a pitch as the one before maybe better and Delgado can't hold up now Molina will start out toward the mound stop we'll see if Tony LaRussa goes to Kenney out of his bullpen with David Wright coming up on deck is the left-handed hitting Greene the Cardinals light Kenney against left-handed hitters but so far no sign of LaRussa and Flores will remain in the game something also to consider Joe is whether the hit and run will be put on right here sometimes when a hitter is struggling the hit and runs a a good boy and pulling out to talk to floors perhaps about that what a manager tries to do is to get the hitter in a favorable count 1 and O 2 & 1 we talked earlier about Willie Randolph playing it by the book Tony LaRussa I bet if you ask him part of his thinking is Flores being a left-handed pitcher trying to keep Beltran close at first right David Wright an RBI single in the first inning on a jam shot into right one for three tonight and only four out of 24 for this series ball one but guys when you got rain like this it makes it tough on all position players not only are they dealing with a with a wet grass but the outfielders they're playing a lot deeper no doubles in this situation and the football is hitting the gap they're not able to cut it off they have to take a deeper angle to get that ball good speed at first for the mention that's ball two to a no Laura's missing twice with the breaking ball he may run right here but this is not a hit and run situation - oh if it goes to two one that changes things right tried to hold up could not too long now a count of two and one belch on the runner at first one out tie game a thing three balls and a strike LaRussa is staying with the left-hander Flores behind on the count to a dangerous hitter David Wright three balls and a strike go-ahead run at first one out that was almost a lock when floor is winning to his Strix there was a mild hesitation right there you can see that left was very very close to a block on Randy Florez David Wright takes strike two full count breaking ball to write in an almost every situation like this during the season the Mets sent the runner to look for him to run right here stage point light strikes out two down so now Tony LaRussa pulls the right strength he leaves Flores out on the mound fell behind right three in wanting came back and struck him out and if he was running on that 3-2 pitch that Molina throws out Beltran the Randolph does not simple and right goes down on strikes in the ninth inning st. Louis will send Edmonds Rowland and Molina to the plate and Wagner continues to throw remember he came on in the ninth inning of Game two with a game tied at six and gave up three runs I was both surprised and wrong that he wasn't running map to out in Sean Greene acquired on August 24th what a rim he was trying to untie it with one swing and strike one Tim I think you're right he would have been running normally but David Wright's been struggling so much at the plate and with Molina back there he didn't want to take a chance and have a double play a walk back-to-back strikeouts rain - first that's a fair ball and that's the end of the eighth inning the Mets still do not have a hit since the first inning and they have stranded eight runners on we played eight what a game seven tided water coming down the stretch the Cardinals did not know what to expect out of Jim Edmonds in the postseason bothered by myriad injuries he's played in every game so far the postseason for Tony Larusso goes after a high changeup strike one tonight a single run scored he's flied out and walked this is a guy that from the 26th of August until the 25th of September didn't play in a game post concussion syndrome he had a bad foot and still has the bad foot head is cleared up and he takes a strike over the outside corner one and two hominis not thrown a breaking ball yet in his one plus innings excellent changeup hitters swing at that arm motion it bends with 13 career postseason home runs old strikes out one away in the night third strikeout for air at high omen and an inning and a third okay with that changeup they look at the arm motion and when the hitter comes forward it strips him of his power to bring the hands forward and you're dead Scott Rolen now last time he was up hit a ball near the 358 mark in left field over the wall and he was robbed on a spectacular catch by Andy Chavez who turned it into a double play oh and to you're just joining us this [Music] [Applause] Oh tutor rolling the Mets in the bottom of this ninth inning will have Valentin Chavez and then the pitcher spot not one RBI this postseason force got rolling ball one that catch by the way of Eric Chavez was right in front of that sponsored sign in left field the strength to be there and was he ever there in DC Ava's a bigger part down and in two and two Rowland during the regular season hit 22 home runs drove home 95 five of 31 this postseason just missed it's a full count just missed it Rowland just held up whoa rollin way out in front on that wheeled on it and hit it into the Cardinal dugout Jeff Weaver went down the steps after that foul ball no if it caught the Cardinal pitcher or not but that was a vicious ball back into the dugout that's foul it's like Rowland is trying to guess along with the pitcher Heilmann and starting that swing a little earlier he's been too early on the last two pitches and homens worked him in and out so it's made it a lot difficult for him to sit on one pitch hard hit base hit rolling is on with one out here in the ninth inning so rolling for all the talk about his shoulder in his relationship with Tony LaRussa which we have gone through here tonight and has been dissected by the media this postseason was robbed of a home run and now hits a sharp single through the left side he's the go-ahead run on here in the ninth inning Yadier Molina hitting one spot higher than he has this postseason for LaRussa olena one for three six home runs during the regular season 49 RBIs hit only 216 coming into this game a 351 career hitter on the road during the postseason hitting seventh tonight he hits it in the air to left field back his Chavez is gone two-run home run Leena and st. Louis takes a three to one ninth in Game seven leave hitting one spot higher in the lineup and he follows Roland's base hit with his second postseason home run this year [Music] it looked like a letter high changeup and carry and carry now Belliard chopped one to the left of Reyes makes a nice play for out number two really Molina has been the hottest hitter all postseason for this Cardinal team there he gets a fastball out over the plate deposited that's billiards ground ball mixed in meanwhile the homerun as Tim said just kept on carrying got under it and it did and Molina with six regular-season home runs this year hits his second of the postseason in front of a stunt Shea Stadium crowd Almond gives it up now Rodriguez will bat for Randy Florez who pitched a scoreless eighth inning and is in line for the victory if Adam Wainwright can hang on Wainwright is the rookie closer for st. Louis getting loose for the Cardinals out in their bullpen Rodriguez takes ball one from Heilmann again bottom of the order for the Mets in the bottom of the ninth Valentin Chavez and then a pinch-hitter Molina with the biggest swing of his life as Rodriguez is fooled by a changeup it's one one 2-out Rodriguez takes ball two [Music] two and two when I could tell you right now that Cardinals dugout is thinking no less than let's just go out there and get three quick outs it will be up to the rookie Adam Wainwright in the bottom of this night meanwhile Rodriguez with two down grounds to the right side Delgado a race to the bag and Heilmann is there for the out this copyrighted telecast is presented by the authority of the office of the Commissioner of baseball and not be reproduced or retransmitted in any form and the accounts and descriptions of this game may not be disseminated without expressed written consent of the Division Series Adam Wainwright who took over for Jason Isringhausen a former fed at a conversation with Isringhausen of the bullpen before he headed out to get the outs against San Diego he said relax slow down they said have you ever been mobbed on a mound before in your life sit go make that happen Wainwright got the final outs he has been brilliant in this postseason his first try as a closer the first pitch is up and away to Ballentine ball one Jose Valentin Andy Chavez than a pinch-hitter three-to-one st. Louis ninth-inning and a high strike 1 & 1 Valentin thought it was high Willie Randolph thought it was up up the letters Valentino for 2 struck out in a key spot in the sixth inning with a bases loaded one out against Suppan breaking ball stays up and away 2 & 1 Tony LaRussa telling Yadier Molina slowing down two and two on Ballentine easier said than done when he got a young kid up there realizing that he's three outs away before his first World Series this postseason two saves five and two thirds scoreless innings no walks eight strikeouts for Adam Wainwright full count Valentin floats one to shallow center belly Artie get there leadoff man on in the ninth [Applause] excellent it back by Ballentine working to count to three and two got a predictable fastball and get some base hints now Andy Chavez the punt for a pace it's certainly an option here job as his bride the bunt for a hit several times during the postseason successful on one job as one for 18 with runners on base in this postseason run LaRussa telling Albert Kools be careful of the bunt down the first base line go on and Molina wants to go calm down Adam Wainwright [Applause] one ball one strike Wainwright a 25 year old right-hander from Brunswick Georgia grew up only wanting to pitch for the Atlanta Braves and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves back in 2000 as a base hit by Chavez [Applause] Mensa put their first two on here in the ninth Chris Floyd was on deck he'll be called back or will he be called back he was called back by by Willie Randolph but we'll see whether Floyd they're seeing that Achilles problem on his left ankle will be called upon to bunch of pellet Duncan out to talk tying runs are on at first and second nobody out typically here Tim's team say you play for the tie at home but instead of sending somebody up there more adept at punting like a Woodward or an Anderson Hernandez Adam Wainwright will be in a battle with cliff Floyd well I tell you what this has been an exciting game 7 to have out there no sacrifices this year for cliff Floyd has not shown the ability to run in this series so a double-play threat if he hits it on the ground - on nobody out 94 miles per hours strike one also by allowing Floyd to swing away the chance of a double play if he hits it at somebody is great because he can't run [Applause] one ball one strike [Applause] 1 & 2 Floyd thought it was my Cardinals get the call borderline pitch Adam Wainwright a starter throughout his minor league career made the Cardinal team out of spring training as a setup believer now trying to close out Game seven of the NLCS one two pitch throw down to first and safe his nd job that's a one thing you have to look for with Molina behind the plate he at seven pickoffs this year 17 get cause for his career as do all sneaks behind Chavez and he loves doing it with the left-handed hitter up there and a fastball inside yeah the runner at first can't see now a 2 2 count big swing by Floyd - and - looking fastball he got it out in front right now Floyd's is telling himself to slow his heart rate down take a deep breath and relax in there everybody in the stadium standing on their feet expecting him to try to hit a home run right here the tutu breaking ball struck him out of looking after five straight basketballs no left-hander would have had a chance on that nobody the rookie with confidence in that breaking ball dropping it in for strike three and now Jose Reyes who can fly who has power who homered last night hit 19 during the regular season two on one out three-two-one st. Louis in the ninth ball one [Music] twenty-five-year-old throwing to the 23 year old breaking ball strike one that's a great pitch right there from Wainwright because everybody's so geared up on his fastball when you throw that chain to the curveball guys are out in front they're trying to load up for the fastball and it goes there they're timing off 73 mile an hour curveball after a mid-90s fastball the one one strike two so Reyes right now has to be thinking he's got a good fastball but he's throwing his turf off her strikes he just struck Floyd out on a curveball rheya silver for tonight just got a piece of another curveball hurt that expression to 12 to 6 curveball that's what rape plane ride possessive Paul really goes down tightly wrap one of the better curveballs in the national way breaking ball is hit in the air to centerfield Edmonds is there for the out go behind the runner too late to down and now the New York Mets team that tied the Yankees were the best record in baseball this season of 97 and 65 are down to their final chance two out two on and lo Duca at the plate ray has got a hold but perhaps the worst curveball that Wainwright has thrown during the postseason a real hanger he hit it hard but Edmonds was there the Cardinals with the fewest wins of any team in the postseason this year stumbled down the stretch 22 and 28 almost coughed up a seven and a half game lead they held on they outlasted Houston and here they are one out away from a trip to Detroit for the world series lo Duca vol 1 on deck is Beltran who is own Cardinal pitching in LCS play go dude - over for tonight one in one and look like a slider from Wainwright that's his third best pitch or dukkha surprised and so a week one ball one strike two on two out three two one st. Louis in the bottom of the ninth doing one [Music] the 2 1 pitch is 5 3 & 1 one more out of the strike zone and Wainwright will put the tying run in scoring position with Beltran coming up low Duke is sitting on a pitch with a count three and one [Music] the bases are loaded two hits and a walk and it's up to Beltran they're the numbers in LCS play for beltron against the Cardinals in Anderson Hernandez will come off the bench and run and first base for lo Duca [Music] well they always say the toughest out in baseball is the last out Wainwright learning that in his first crack is being a closure in the big leagues and he has to go through beltron to try and wrap up this LCS beltron to tie it with a hit win it for the Matson send New York to the World Series with an extra-base hit bases-loaded two-out strike one [Music] strike two basket ball to the first pitch curveball fouled off the right foot a peltro two quick strikes on Carlos Beltran with a bases-loaded two-out the Mets down by two breaking ball struck him out and the Cardinals have won the pennant [Music] polina leaps into the arms of Adam Wainwright as the rookie closer strikes out Beltran looking where the bases loaded in the Cardinals celebrate before their trip to Detroit [Music] the Cardinals getting the offense in the top of the ninth inning from the unlikely source of Yadier Molina who's been good this postseason hit only 216 during the regular year six home runs all season a 2-run shot in the ninth inning to put st. Louis on top and then he squeezed the final strike on a breaking ball from Wainwright and this game ends three to one and this NLCS ends in game 7 with that pitch from Adam Wainwright [Music] [Music] shock and disbelief here at Shea Stadium they saw a beautifully played ball game into the ninth inning they watched Molina go deep loaded him up but could not get the hit from Beltran a final of three to one here in Game seven

Channel: Cardinals Baseball Classics

Views: 69,809

Rating: 4.7633586 out of 5

Keywords: mlb, baseball, mlb baseball, st. louis cardinals, 2006 st. louis cardinals, 2006 nlcs, 2006 nlcs game seven, 2006 nlcs game 7, jeff suppan, scott rolen, yadier molina, yadier molina home run, yadier molina nlcs, adam wainwright, tony la russa, new york mets, carlos beltran, carlos beltra adam wainwright, carlos beltran strikeout

Id: nZW1RJzGpOE

Length: 155min 46sec (9346 seconds)

Published: Thu Jan 17 2019