Heading into the series, the Cardinals recalibrated their bullpen. Jake Westbrook, who had been a starter throughout the regular season and was moved to the bullpen for the NLDS vs. the Phillies, was left off the roster. When Skip Schumaker suffered an oblique injury, his roster spot also went toward reloading the bullpen, as the Cardinals added Kyle McClellan and Lynn, both of whom were capable of pitching multiple innings.

It was just one more step in strengthening a bullpen that the Cardinals upgraded when they traded Colby Rasmus, Trever Miller, Brian Tallet, and P.J. Walters to the Blue Jays in July for outfielder Corey Patterson, starting pitcher Edwin Jackson, and relievers Octavio Dotel and Rzepczynski.

“What they did at the trade deadline and what we’ve done since then is we’ve gotten pretty deep and they’re not afraid to use us,” Lynn said. “Guys started to figure out their niche out there. Things got smoother.”[1]

Carpenter was coming off a three-hit, complete-game shutout of the Phillies in Game 5 of the NLDS, but he never seemed to get settled in against the Brewers. In the first inning, he walked Mark Kotsay and hit Ryan Braun with a pitch. With runners on first and second and one out, Prince Fielder flied out to center fielder Jon Jay, who ended the inning when he threw out Kotsay as he tried to advance to second.

The momentum of Jay’s double play carried over to the bottom of the first against Brewers starter Yovanni Gallardo, who entered the game with a 1-7 career record and 5.66 ERA against the Cardinals. Rafael Furcal led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second when Gallardo uncorked a wild pitch. Jay doubled to put the Cardinals on the scoreboard, and Albert Pujols followed with a ground-rule double that scored Jay.

Battling his control, Gallardo walked both Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman before Molina hit into a double play that scored Pujols. David Freese followed with the Cardinals’ third double of the inning to make the score 4-0.

“I think I was off the whole game, to be honest with you,” Gallardo said. “Even after that first inning, the four innings after that, I was just struggling. I was battling to put the ball where I wanted to.”[2]

The Brewers immediately cut the Cardinals’ lead in half in the second inning as Rickie Weeks, Jerry Hairston, and Yuniesky Betancourt hit consecutive singles and Gallardo added a sacrifice fly. One inning later, Kotsay homered to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 4-3.

“I got a first-pitch fastball and put a good swing on it,” Kotsay said. “At that point, I thought we had the momentum on our side.”[3]

Carpenter worked around an infield single in the fourth and two walks in the fifth. After five innings and 89 pitches, his night was complete. The Cardinals ace had allowed three earned runs on six hits and three walks.

“All night long it was a battle, but you know what? That’s what it’s all about in the postseason,” Carpenter said. “Our bullpen did a phenomenal job to finish it out.”[4]

Salas, who had posted a 2.28 ERA and saved 24 games during the regular season, retired Hairston, Betancourt, and Jonathan Lucroy in order in the sixth. The rookie Lynn followed with a 1-2-3 seventh, getting fly balls from Nyjer Morgan, Corey Hart, and Kotsay.

Lynn returned for the eighth inning, getting Braun to ground out to Nick Punto at second base before Cardinals manager Tony La Russa called on Rzepczynski to face the left-handed Fielder. Rzepczynski struck out Fielder on four pitches before La Russa once again played the match-ups, turning to Motte to get the final four outs of the game.

Motte struck out Weeks to finish the eight, then rolled through the ninth, getting Hairston to ground out before striking out Betancourt and pinch-hitter Casey McGehee to end the game. It was the perfect way to cap a dominant performance from the Cardinals’ bullpen, which held the Brewers hitless over four innings of work.

“To me, the thing that has gone the furthest has been Motte stepping up and being the closer,” Berkman said. “Now we’ve got a guy throwing 100 with a nasty slider. It’s a presence, a force out there.”[5]

For the postseason, St. Louis relief pitchers had held opponents to a .185 batting average.

“We knew their bullpen was good, but when you have guys that are throwing that hard, they don’t walk people, they have good sliders … they’ve got good arms,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said.[6]

“The bullpen is feeding off each other right now,” Rzepczynski said. “One guy is going in, getting a guy out, and then another situation calls someone else in. We’re succeeding right now. We’re going to keep it going in this series.”[7]

Though he wasn’t his sharpest, Carpenter earned his second win of the 2011 postseason and his seventh career postseason win, tying a franchise record set by Bob Gibson. Motte was credited with the save.

Freese led the Cardinals’ offensive efforts with three hits, including a pair of doubles. Pujols added two hits and was intentionally walked twice.

With the win, St. Louis was entering Game 4 with a 2-1 series lead.

“They’re way too good over there for us to take victories for granted,” Freese said.[8]

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[1] Derrick Goold, “Bullpen saves the day,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 13, 2011.

[2] Tom Oates, “It’s official: Trouble is brewing,” Wisconsin State Journal, October 13, 2011.

[3] Dennis Punzel, “Rally out of reach,” Wisconsin State Journal, October 13, 2011.

[4] Joe Strauss, “High-stakes performance,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 13, 2011.

[5] Joe Strauss, “High-stakes performance,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 13, 2011.

[6] Bryan Burwell, “Drama continues,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 13, 2011.

[7] Derrick Goold, “Bullpen saves the day,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 13, 2011.

[8] Joe Strauss, “High-stakes performance,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 13, 2011.

The post 2011 NLCS Game 3: Bullpen shines in Cardinals win first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

“Marcum has had success against Pujols this year,” Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. “You look at those balls. They’re all elevated in the zone, but you elevate balls to a guy like Pujols, he’s going to make you pay for it.”[5]

In the third inning, starting pitcher Edwin Jackson and Jay each singled before Pujols doubled to the center-field wall. Nick Punto added an RBI single in the fourth to extend the Cardinals’ lead to 5-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Brewers cleanup hitter Prince Fielder doubled and second baseman Rickie Weeks followed with a two-run homer that cut the Cardinals’ lead to 5-2.

That was as close as the Brewers would come. Jay and Pujols hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the fifth and, with two outs, Pujols scored on a wild pitch to put the Cardinals ahead by five runs once more.

The Brewers threatened again in the bottom of the fifth when Jackson walked Corey Hart and allowed a ground-rule double to Ryan Braun. Arthur Rhodes entered the game to face Fielder, but walked him to load the bases.

With just one out in the inning, La Russa turned to Lance Lynn, the 6-foot-5, 270-pound right-hander out of Ole Miss, to face Weeks. Lynn had come up through the Cardinals’ system as a starter, but been used primarily out of the bullpen in his rookie year, making 16 relief appearances and even earning a save while posting a 3.12 ERA. An oblique strain had kept him out of action late in the season, but the rookie was reactivated in time for Game 1 of the NLCS.

“The best way to say it is this: We’re not reluctant to use him,” Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan said. “There’s no reluctance on Tony (La Russa)’s part or my part to put him in the game. You might see him in any situation.”[6]

In this situation, Weeks swung at Lynn’s first offering and hit a ground ball to the shortstop Furcal to begin a 6-4-3, inning-ending double play.

With the momentum on their side, the Cardinals rallied for four more runs in the seventh inning off Brewers reliever Kameron Loe. Among their six hits in the frame, the Cardinals got RBI singles from Matt Holliday, Yadier Molina, David Freese, and Punto to extend their lead to 11-2. Pujols started the rally with a one-out double down the right-field line, setting a new League Championship Series record with his third double in a nine-inning game.

“Sometimes when they come, they come in a bunch,” Pujols said.[7]

“He was Albert,” Fielder said. “It’s no surprise. Former MVP. That’s what he does.”[8]

Fielder hit a solo home run off Mitchell Boggs to lead off the eighth, and Freese answered in the top of the ninth with a home run of his own.

Jason Motte retired the side in order in the ninth to cap off the win and even the NLCS at one game apiece.

Complementing Pujols’ five-RBI day was Jay, who went 3-for-5 and scored three runs – all on Pujols hits.

“I have all these veterans tell us take advantage of every opportunity you have,” Jay said. “Even in the offseason, when I’m working out, I’m not saying, ‘Hey, I want to have a good season.’ I want to get to the postseason. My goals aren’t, ‘Hey, let’s play the season and see what happens.’ I want to win. I want to be known as a winning player. That is one of the things that drive me.”[9]

Lynn’s single pitch was enough to earn him the first postseason win of his career. Fernando Salas, Marc Rzepczynski, and Motte each threw scoreless innings.

Marcum took the loss for the Brewers after allowing five earned runs in four innings.

“They did a great job hitting tonight,” Fielder said. “That pretty much wraps it up.”[10]

Enjoy this post? Find similar stories listed by decade or by player.

[1] Joe Strauss, “Power surge for Pujols,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[2] Bernie Miklasz, “So, what do you think now?” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[3] Joe Strauss, “Power surge for Pujols,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[4] Derrick Goold, “Jay finds comfort in two spot,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[5] Rick Hummel, “Game 2 is bumpy for Brewers,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[6] Derrick Goold, “Lynn proves his value to Cards as reliever,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[7] Chris Jenkins, “Cards get even,” Green Bay Press-Gazette, October 11, 2011.

[8] Rick Hummel, “Game 2 is bumpy for Brewers,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[9] Derrick Goold, “Jay finds comfort in two spot,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[10] Rick Hummel, “Game 2 is bumpy for Brewers,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

Game 1 of the 2011 NLCS had been a tough one for Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals. After jumping out to a 5-2 lead, the Cardinals allowed a pair of two-run home runs in the fifth inning of what turned into a 9-6 Brewers win.

Most frustrating for Pujols was his at-bat in the seventh inning with the Cardinals trailing 8-5. With runners on first and third and no one out, Pujols bounced into a 5-4-3 double play that scored leadoff man Rafael Furcal but also effectively killed the chance at a rally.

“Going to bed I was just thinking of so many opportunities I had to help the team win,” Pujols said. “I turned the page. I thought what could I do to help the team win. I turned the page. I thought what could I do to help the team win today.”[1]

Prior to Game 2, Pujols had been relatively quiet through the Cardinals’ Division Series win over the Phillies and the opening game of the NLCS. As Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote, “Pujols had a .333 batting average through his first six postseason games of 2011. But it was a quiet and rather blah .333; Pujols had no homers and only one run batted in. Pujols had the hits, but where was the thunder?”[2]

In Game 2, the thunder came in the form of a home run, three doubles, and five RBIs from Pujols to spark a 12-3 victory that evened the series before it returned to St. Louis for Game 3. Cardinals second baseman Nick Punto said he could see Pujols’ intensity in pregame batting practice.

“He didn’t have a lot to say but I knew something was going to happen,” Punto said. “I’ve seen that a few times with him. I saw it a few times with (former Twins teammate Justin) Morneau. If you ever get him down, watch out.”[3]

Pujols and Jon Jay, who finished with three hits of his own on the day, sparked the Cardinals in the first inning. Jay laid down a bunt for a one-out single.

“It was one of those feelings I got, just go for it right there,” Jay said. “I went with my gut feeling that now was the good time to do it. It was the first inning, time to get something going.”[4]

Pujols, who had been 1-for-9 for his career against Brewers starter Shaun Marcum, followed with a two-run homer to get the Cardinals on the scoreboard. The home run was Pujols’ ninth NLCS home run, breaking a tie with Steve Garvey for the most in a career.

“Marcum has had success against Pujols this year,” Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. “You look at those balls. They’re all elevated in the zone, but you elevate balls to a guy like Pujols, he’s going to make you pay for it.”[5]

In the third inning, starting pitcher Edwin Jackson and Jay each singled before Pujols doubled to the center-field wall. Nick Punto added an RBI single in the fourth to extend the Cardinals’ lead to 5-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Brewers cleanup hitter Prince Fielder doubled and second baseman Rickie Weeks followed with a two-run homer that cut the Cardinals’ lead to 5-2.

That was as close as the Brewers would come. Jay and Pujols hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the fifth and, with two outs, Pujols scored on a wild pitch to put the Cardinals ahead by five runs once more.

The Brewers threatened again in the bottom of the fifth when Jackson walked Corey Hart and allowed a ground-rule double to Ryan Braun. Arthur Rhodes entered the game to face Fielder, but walked him to load the bases.

With just one out in the inning, La Russa turned to Lance Lynn, the 6-foot-5, 270-pound right-hander out of Ole Miss, to face Weeks. Lynn had come up through the Cardinals’ system as a starter, but been used primarily out of the bullpen in his rookie year, making 16 relief appearances and even earning a save while posting a 3.12 ERA. An oblique strain had kept him out of action late in the season, but the rookie was reactivated in time for Game 1 of the NLCS.

“The best way to say it is this: We’re not reluctant to use him,” Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan said. “There’s no reluctance on Tony (La Russa)’s part or my part to put him in the game. You might see him in any situation.”[6]

In this situation, Weeks swung at Lynn’s first offering and hit a ground ball to the shortstop Furcal to begin a 6-4-3, inning-ending double play.

With the momentum on their side, the Cardinals rallied for four more runs in the seventh inning off Brewers reliever Kameron Loe. Among their six hits in the frame, the Cardinals got RBI singles from Matt Holliday, Yadier Molina, David Freese, and Punto to extend their lead to 11-2. Pujols started the rally with a one-out double down the right-field line, setting a new League Championship Series record with his third double in a nine-inning game.

“Sometimes when they come, they come in a bunch,” Pujols said.[7]

“He was Albert,” Fielder said. “It’s no surprise. Former MVP. That’s what he does.”[8]

Fielder hit a solo home run off Mitchell Boggs to lead off the eighth, and Freese answered in the top of the ninth with a home run of his own.

Jason Motte retired the side in order in the ninth to cap off the win and even the NLCS at one game apiece.

Complementing Pujols’ five-RBI day was Jay, who went 3-for-5 and scored three runs – all on Pujols hits.

“I have all these veterans tell us take advantage of every opportunity you have,” Jay said. “Even in the offseason, when I’m working out, I’m not saying, ‘Hey, I want to have a good season.’ I want to get to the postseason. My goals aren’t, ‘Hey, let’s play the season and see what happens.’ I want to win. I want to be known as a winning player. That is one of the things that drive me.”[9]

Lynn’s single pitch was enough to earn him the first postseason win of his career. Fernando Salas, Marc Rzepczynski, and Motte each threw scoreless innings.

Marcum took the loss for the Brewers after allowing five earned runs in four innings.

“They did a great job hitting tonight,” Fielder said. “That pretty much wraps it up.”[10]

Enjoy this post? Find similar stories listed by decade or by player.

[1] Joe Strauss, “Power surge for Pujols,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[2] Bernie Miklasz, “So, what do you think now?” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[3] Joe Strauss, “Power surge for Pujols,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[4] Derrick Goold, “Jay finds comfort in two spot,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[5] Rick Hummel, “Game 2 is bumpy for Brewers,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[6] Derrick Goold, “Lynn proves his value to Cards as reliever,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[7] Chris Jenkins, “Cards get even,” Green Bay Press-Gazette, October 11, 2011.

[8] Rick Hummel, “Game 2 is bumpy for Brewers,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[9] Derrick Goold, “Jay finds comfort in two spot,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

[10] Rick Hummel, “Game 2 is bumpy for Brewers,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 11, 2011.

The post October 10, 2011: Pujols drives in five as Cardinals even the NLCS first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.