Now Chris Carpenter has the chance to put the
St. Louis Cardinals back into the NL championship series.
Following Saturday's 3-1 loss to the San Diego Padres, St. Louis
still had a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five NL playoff and the
opportunity to close out the first-round series at home Sunday.
``Carpenter's a Cy Young candidate,'' shortstop David Eckstein
said. ``We feel very confident.''
As usual, Carpenter, the one-time Toronto Blue Jay, was sparse
with his words and businesslike in his approach.
``We're still at the advantage. They've got to win both games, we
have to win one,'' he said. ``If I get prepared and come out and
treat it like I normally treat it, and that's go out and execute and
be prepared and compete, hopefully we can do the things that we did
the two games in San Diego, get a couple runs and pitch well in the
bullpen and do a good job and play a good game and win and celebrate
at home with the fans.''
Carpenter (15-8), the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, will be
opposed by former Cardinal Woody Williams (12-5). Padres manager
Bruce Bochy decided to give Game 1 loser Jake Peavy an extra day of
rest on the theory the Padres need to win two games, anyway.
Carpenter was among the NL leaders in wins and ERA (3.09). He
allowed just one run in 6 1-3 innings in beating the Padres Tuesday
in San Diego.
During the final week of the regular season, San Diego roughed up
Carpenter for six runs and 12 hits in seven innings in beating the
Cardinals 7-5 in St. Louis. The loss came during the Cardinals'
season-ending tailspin that nearly cost them a spot in the playoffs.
It was the most hits Carpenter gave up all season and tied for the
second-most runs.
``We know how good he is,'' Bochy said. ``This guy is one of the
best pitchers in the game. If I had our way we wouldn't see him.''
The Padres had not seen Carpenter this season before the game on
Sept. 26. San Diego is batting .293 (17-for-58) against Carpenter
this year, including the playoffs.
``We got a chance to soak in what Carpenter did to us,'' Geoff
Blum said. ``Now we have to make some adjustments. We have to relax
and hit his mistakes. Hopefully, he'll make some mistakes.''
St. Louis has managed just three runs since the series opener and
had just five hits Saturday.
If the Cardinals lose Sunday, Jeff Weaver likely would start
Monday on three days' rest. Albert Pujols wants to finish off the
Padres behind Carpenter.
``Well, he's our ace,'' Pujols said. ``Definitely you don't want
to go back to San Diego for one game.''
