Cardinals Down But Not Out: "We've Been Here Before"
The weight of a 51-year championship drought just got a little heavier in St. Louis. After the Cardinals' 7-1 loss in Game 6, they now face the daunting task of winning three straight against baseball's best pitching staff. But in the visiting clubhouse at Camden Yards, there was no panic – only resolve.
"Baseball's a funny game," Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers said, leaning back in his office chair with the same calm demeanor that's defined his tenure. "Everyone's talking about how we need to win three in a row like it's climbing Mount Everest. You know what? This team won eight straight in May. Seven straight in July. We won five straight to close out September when we needed every one of them."
The decision to start
Oscar Regalado (now 0-3, 10.54 ERA this postseason) will be debated all winter if the Cardinals can't complete the comeback. But Rogers' focus remained forward, not backward.
"You win one game tomorrow. Then you win one game the next day. Then you win one more," Rogers continued, the hint of a smile crossing his face. "That's all baseball is – one game at a time. We've got our backs against the wall? Fine. That wall's at Busch Stadium, and I like our chances in front of our fans. This team's got something special about it. Always has. Now we just need to show it three more times."
The Cardinals will turn to their ace
Urban Henry in Game 7, hoping to start their own slice of history. No team has overcome a 4-2 deficit in a best-of-nine World Series since 1925. But as Rogers puts it: "Records are made to be broken. Droughts are meant to end. And comebacks? They're meant to be legendary. See you Friday night."
Code:
ST. LOUIS BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
J. Cordero SS 4 1 3 0 0 0 0 .375 2 11
M. Matsui LF 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .132 0 1
a-A. Novak PH, LF 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 0 0
A. Fernández 1B 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .325 2 9
L. Ramírez CF 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 .191 0 7
M. Del Angel 2B 4 0 2 0 0 2 2 .208 1 5
S. Cook 3B 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .286 0 4
O. Regalado P, DH4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .182 0 0
D. Cook RF 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 .214 4 8
R. Van de Veer C 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .167 0 3
Totals 32 1 8 1 3 7 15
BATTING
Doubles: J. Cordero (3, 3rd Inning off A. Nuñez, 0 on, 1 out)
Total Bases: J. Cordero 4, A. Fernández, L. Ramírez, M. Del Angel 2, O. Regalado
2-out RBI: L. Ramírez
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: L. Ramírez, M. Del Angel, R. Van de Veer
Sac Bunt: M. Matsui
Team LOB: 8
FIELDING
Errors: J. Cordero
Double Plays: 3 (Cordero-Del Angel-Fernández, Del Angel-Cordero-Fernández, Del Angel-Cordero-Fernández)
PB: R. Van de Veer
BALTIMORE BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
S. Van Doren LF 5 1 2 2 0 2 1 .292 0 3
J. Bouché 1B 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .341 2 8
A. Narcisse RF 2 1 1 0 2 0 0 .227 0 3
B. Moreno SS 4 0 2 0 0 0 3 .262 0 0
K. Soutillan DH 4 1 1 1 0 1 1 .138 0 3
D. Madden CF 2 2 1 1 2 0 1 .372 5 11
J. Cisneros 3B 3 1 1 1 1 0 4 .229 2 10
K. Kobayashi C 3 0 0 1 0 1 2 .282 0 2
K. Richardson 2B 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .167 0 2
Totals 31 7 10 7 5 4 14
BATTING
Doubles: J. Bouché (5, 1st Inning off O. Regalado, 0 on, 1 out), S. Van Doren 2 (7, 7th Inning off O. Regalado, 2 on, 1 out; 8th Inning off M. Avery, 0 on, 2 outs)
Home Runs: D. Madden (5, 7th Inning off O. Regalado, 0 on, 0 outs)
Total Bases: S. Van Doren 4, J. Bouché 2, A. Narcisse, B. Moreno 2, K. Soutillan, D. Madden 4, J. Cisneros, K. Richardson
2-out RBI: K. Soutillan
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: S. Van Doren, J. Bouché, J. Cisneros
GIDP: B. Moreno 2, J. Cisneros
Sac Fly: J. Bouché, K. Kobayashi
Team LOB: 7
FIELDING
Double Plays: 1 (Moreno-Bouché)
OF assists: 1 (Madden(Fernández at 3rd base))
ST. LOUIS PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
O. Regalado L (0-3) 6.2 7 7 5 4 4 1 111 10.54
M. Avery 1.1 3 0 0 1 0 0 24 3.38
BALTIMORE PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
A. Nuñez W (3-0) 6.2 8 1 1 2 5 0 95 0.44
J. Stewart SV (1) 2.1 0 0 0 1 2 0 34 0.00