11 in '11 by Benjamin Hochman
Author:Benjamin Hochman [Hochman, Benjamin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-03-18T05:17:51+00:00
Naturally, there were nerves heading to the Cardinalsâ Game 162. Sure, Chris Carpenter was throwing. And sure, the Astros were 56â105. But this was the same Astros team that took a 5â0 lead the day before. And if there was one certainty about this crazy year it was simply that nothing was certain. But before Carpenter even threw a pitch, it was the Cardinals who took a 5â0 lead.
Jon Jay led off with a single followed by hits from Craig, Albert Pujols, Berkman, and David Freese. And after Yadier Molina grounded out, Skip Schumaker and Punto got hits, too. All along, the Cardinals followed the Braves score. In a meeting room to the right of the clubhouse, traveling secretary CJ Cherre watched both games with Chad Blair, the Cardinalsâ longtime video coordinator. âEven Albert came in between innings,â Cherre said. âWe were up big at the time. And he came in, had a bat in hand. Heâs getting ready to hit and he just wanted to check in on the game. He said, âDonât worry about it. The Phillies are going to win this game and weâre going to win the wild-card tonight.â Chad and I just looked at each other and thought, I guess we donât have to worry!â
Carpenterâs first 15 starts of the season earned him a record of 1â7. His ERA was 4.47. From that point on, he made 19 more startsâand went 10â2 with a 2.73 ERA. And in his final five starts of 2011, he averaged eight innings pitched with an ERA of 1.13. âCarp went out there with that look in his eye,â Jason Motte recalled of that last night in Houston. âCarp would probably have had to go 12 innings for one of the relievers to get in.â
And there was a special guestâpitching coach Dave Duncan returned from his time with his ailing wife. He would be a part of any postseason action. The Cards beat the Astros 8â0. At the very least a Game 163 was guaranteed. âNobody talks about the gem Chris Carpenter threw that day,â the birthday-celebrating Baris said. âComplete game, shut down the Astros pre-trash cans. And then after that, I was never more into a baseball game that was not the Cardinals in my life than the one with the Braves and Phillies. It went to extras, of course. I remember there was a chance they almost walked off. It was getting late, my parents wanted me to go to bed. I said, âNo way.ââ
The Cardinals nervously watched Atlanta from the visitorsâ clubhouse in Houston. Some players sat at their lockers; others filtered into the kitchen and dining area. All sat on pins and needles. âWeâre all thinking, Holy crap, this can happen. How did we get here?â recalled bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist. âYou think back to August, and weâre wondering how we were going to climb out. Youâre thinking this is going to be Mount Everest to try to do so.â
The night was unique because in real
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