Months before his 2011 Cardinals surged into a National League wild-card berth and stunned all of baseball with the franchise’s 11th World Series championship, Tony La Russa knew it would be his last season wearing the birds on the bat. As the Cardinals entered the dog days of August, La Russa realized that while he […]
Tony La Russa retires on a winning note: October 31, 2011 Read More »
After rallying from 10 ½ games back in the National League wild-card race and falling behind five separate times in their 10-9 Game 6 victory over the Rangers, a 2-0 first-inning deficit didn’t seem like much for the 2011 Cardinals to overcome. Six unanswered runs later, the Cardinals had a 6-2 victory in World Series
2011 World Series Game 7: Cardinals clinch their 11th title Read More »
With rain threatening, Major League Baseball postponed the sixth game of the World Series a day. It was well worth the wait. The 47,325 fans at Busch Stadium that evening saw David Freese cement his legacy with a game-tying, two-run triple in the ninth inning and a game-winning solo home run in the 11th. Along
10/27/2011: David Freese home run caps historic World Series Game 6 Read More »
With three home runs in Game 3 of the 2011 World Series, Albert Pujols didn’t just correct course after an 0-for-6 start to the Fall Classic. With three blasts in the final four innings of Game 3, Pujols joined Babe Ruth (1926 and 1928) and Reggie Jackson (1977) as the only players in baseball history
Albert Pujols hits three homers: 2011 World Series Game 3 Read More »
The Cardinals opened the 2011 World Series using the same recipe that got them there in the first place: dependable starting pitching, timely hitting, and sparkling relief. Thanks to a diving play from starting pitcher Chris Carpenter, a two-run single by Lance Berkman, and three shutout innings from the bullpen, the Cardinals beat the Rangers
2011 World Series: Game 1 Read More »
The St. Louis Cardinals were never supposed to reach the 2011 NLCS. Not after Adam Wainwright went down with a season-ending injury in spring training. Not after they fell 10 games behind the Brewers in the National League Central Division and 10 ½ games behind the Braves in the wild card standings on August 24.
It’s an old baseball axiom that pitching and defense win championships. The Cardinals certainly used that formula to beat the Brewers 7-1 in Game 5 of the 2011 NLCS. With the series tied 2-2, the Cardinals pounced on four Brewers errors and once again relied upon a bullpen that had allowed just four earned runs
October 14, 2011: Cardinals capitalize on Brewers’ errors to win NLCS Game 5 Read More »
Early in the season, a five-inning start from Chris Carpenter wouldn’t have been enough for the Cardinals and their beleaguered bullpen. By the time the 2011 NLCS Game 3 rolled around, the Cardinals’ once-shaky bullpen had become key to their success, as evidenced by the four innings of scoreless relief provided by Fernando Salas, Lance Lynn,
2011 NLCS Game 3: Bullpen shines in Cardinals win Read More »
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
October 10, 2011: Pujols drives in five as Cardinals even the NLCS Read More »
With Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay taking the mound, Game 5 of the 2011 National League Division Series between the Cardinals and Phillies was primed for a pitching duel. The result more than lived up to expectations. After the Phillies captured two of the first three games in the series, the Cardinals forced the decisive
Chris Carpenter outduels Roy Halladay: 2011 NLDS Game 5 Read More »