Across two stints and seven seasons in St. Louis, Lynn built a legacy of consistency, competitiveness, and a steady presence during one of the most successful stretches in recent franchise history.

Drafted 39th overall in 2008 out of Ole Miss, Lynn entered the Cardinals organization without the overwhelming expectations that often accompany top pitching prospects. What he did possess, however, was a durable arm and a fiercely competitive mindset. By 2009, he had already established himself as one of the organization’s rising pitchers, earning Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors after posting a 2.85 ERA and 124 strikeouts across multiple levels. That steady progression set the stage for his major league debut on June 2, 2011, when he joined a Cardinals team that soon embarked on one of the most memorable postseason runs in baseball history.

Lynn’s role during the 2011 regular season was limited, but October transformed both his trajectory and his standing within the organization. Despite being sidelined late in the year by an oblique injury, he was added to the postseason roster and quickly became one of manager Tony La Russa’s most trusted relief options. In a bullpen already featuring established arms, Lynn carved out a niche as a power right-hander capable of handling high-leverage situations and multiple innings when needed.

He appeared in 10 postseason games, an unusually heavy workload for a rookie who had logged fewer than 20 regular-season appearances. His usage reflected the Cardinals’ confidence in him. In the National League Championship Series, he made five appearances and did not allow a run, providing critical stability in a tightly contested series. One of his most unusual moments came in Game 2, when he recorded the win after throwing just one pitch.

The World Series further underscored his importance. Lynn appeared four times against the Texas Rangers, including Game 3, when he earned the victory by delivering 2⅓ innings of relief in a game that helped shift momentum in the Cardinals’ favor. Even in Game 6, the most iconic contest of that postseason, he was entrusted with a critical late-inning assignment, a reflection of how quickly he had moved into the team’s circle of trust. While that outing included a pair of home runs, it did not diminish his overall body of work, which included multiple scoreless appearances in the series.

Across the postseason, Lynn’s combination of durability, strikeout ability, and composure allowed the Cardinals to navigate high-pressure innings late in games. For a team that relied heavily on matchup flexibility and bullpen depth, his presence was invaluable. By the end of October, he was no longer just a promising young pitcher – he was a proven contributor on a championship team, one whose ability to handle the moment foreshadowed the larger role he would assume in the years that followed.

The following season, opportunity arrived when injuries opened a spot in the starting rotation. Lynn stepped into that role and immediately proved he belonged. He won his first six starts and quickly became one of the most reliable pitchers on the staff, eventually finishing with an 18–7 record, a 3.78 ERA, and 180 strikeouts while earning his first All-Star selection. More importantly, he transitioned from a postseason contributor into a full-time starter capable of carrying a significant workload.

Over the next several seasons, Lynn developed into one of the most dependable pitchers in the National League. From 2012 through 2015, he delivered four consecutive seasons of at least 175 innings, a mark of durability that grew increasingly rare in an era defined by pitch limits and injuries.

He reached a new level in 2013, throwing 201 ⅔ innings while striking out 198 batters. His ability to take the ball every fifth day gave the Cardinals a level of stability that cannot be overstated, particularly as the team remained a consistent postseason contender.

By 2015, he had compiled a 72–47 record and established himself as one of the most reliable starters in the league. His ability to generate strikeouts was also notable, as he ranked among the franchise leaders in strikeouts per nine innings among pitchers with significant workloads.

That run of durability came to an abrupt halt late in 2015 when Lynn underwent Tommy John surgery, forcing him to miss the entire 2016 season. For many pitchers, that kind of interruption introduces uncertainty not just about health, but about identity—how they will get hitters out when they return.

Lynn’s response was to refine what had already made him effective. When he returned in 2017, he leaned even more heavily into his fastball-based approach, attacking hitters aggressively in the strike zone and trusting his ability to generate weak contact as much as strikeouts. He also became more efficient with his pitch mix, simplifying sequences and working deeper into counts without overextending himself.

The results reflected that adjustment. He made 33 starts, logged more than 186 innings, and posted a 3.43 ERA – numbers that reinforced his reputation as a dependable, innings-eating starter even after a full year away from competition.

That version of Lynn – less concerned with overpowering hitters and more focused on attacking them with conviction – carried into the later stages of his career. Rather than fading, he evolved into a pitcher who understood exactly how to use his strengths, a transition that ultimately set the stage for the most productive seasons of his career after leaving St. Louis.

By the time he reached free agency following the 2017 season, Lynn had established himself as one of the most dependable starters of the era, a pitcher who had helped anchor multiple playoff teams. His exit did not erase that impact, but it did shift his story into a new phase – one that ultimately added depth to how his time in St. Louis is remembered.

After brief stops with the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees, he experienced a resurgence with the Texas Rangers. In 2019, he delivered one of the best seasons of his career, going 16–11 with a 3.67 ERA and 246 strikeouts over more than 208 innings, finishing fifth in the Cy Young voting.

He continued that success with the Chicago White Sox, earning another All-Star selection in 2021 while posting a 2.69 ERA and finishing third in Cy Young voting. These later achievements demonstrated that the foundation built during his time in St. Louis could evolve alongside the changing dynamics of modern pitching.

When the Cardinals brought Lynn back on a one-year contract in November 2023, the move carried both practical and symbolic significance. The team needed innings and experience, but it also welcomed back a familiar presence from a championship era.

In 23 starts during the 2024 season, Lynn went 7–4 with a 3.84 ERA and 109 strikeouts over 117⅓ innings. He also reached several important milestones, surpassing 2,000 career strikeouts and recording a victory against all 30 major league teams.

Beyond the numbers, his return provided a connection between generations of Cardinals baseball. As one of the last remaining links to the 2011 World Series team, Lynn brought a veteran presence and a competitive edge to a roster in transition. His fiery demeanor remained unchanged, reinforcing the qualities that had defined his earlier years with the organization.

When his contract option was declined following the 2024 season, it marked the natural conclusion of his Cardinals career. His subsequent retirement in 2025 provided an opportunity to reflect on what he meant to the franchise.

Lynn was a valuable piece the Cardinals’ 2011 championship run, contributed across multiple postseason appearances, and helped to anchor the rotation for several years during a period of consistent contention. He overcame injury to return as an effective starter and extended his career by adapting his approach and refining his skills. His final season in St. Louis served as both a productive campaign and a fitting conclusion to a career that began there more than a decade earlier.

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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.

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“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]

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[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.