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 Cardinals’ Game 162. Sure, Chris Carpenter was throwing. And sure, the Astros were 56–105. But this was the same Astros team that took a 5–0 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 5–0 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 Cardinals’ longtime video coordinator. “Even Albert came in between innings,” Cherre said. “We were up big at the time. And he came in, had a bat in hand. He’s getting ready to hit and he just wanted to check in on the game. He said, ‘Don’t worry about it. The Phillies are going to win this game and we’re going to win the wild-card tonight.’ Chad and I just looked at each other and thought, I guess we don’t have to worry!”

Carpenter’s first 15 starts of the season earned him a record of 1–7. His ERA was 4.47. From that point on, he made 19 more starts—and went 10–2 with a 2.73 ERA. And in his final five starts of 2011, he averaged eight innings pitched with an ERA of 1.13. “Carp went out there with that look in his eye,” Jason Motte recalled of that last night in Houston. “Carp would probably have had to go 12 innings for one of the relievers to get in.”

And there was a special guest—pitching 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 8–0. At the very least a Game 163 was guaranteed. “Nobody talks about the gem Chris Carpenter threw that day,” the birthday-celebrating Baris said. “Complete 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, ‘No way.’”

The Cardinals nervously watched Atlanta from the visitors’ clubhouse in Houston. Some players sat at their lockers; others filtered into the kitchen and dining area. All sat on pins and needles. “We’re all thinking, Holy crap, this can happen. How did we get here?” recalled bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist. “You think back to August, and we’re wondering how we were going to climb out. You’re thinking this is going to be Mount Everest to try to do so.”

The night was unique because in real

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