Jason Isringhausen felt a little bit like a proud papa watching Adam Wainwright get four outs to save Game 5 of the NL championship series.

The St. Louis Cardinals' closer is out for the season after hip surgery last month, and has been serving as a mentor for Wainwright, a 24-year-old rookie who's taken over his role. Wainwright caught Jose Valentin for a called third strike to end the eighth and strand runners at second and third, then retired the side in order in the ninth in a 4-2 victory Tuesday night that gave the Cardinals a 3-2 series lead.

``I get more nervous now than when I did when I was pitching,'' Isringhausen said. ``It's just fun to watch them do what they do.''

A bullpen that includes three rookies allowed nine runs in the fifth and sixth innings of a 12-5 loss in Game 4. But in Game 5, Josh Kinney, Randy Flores and Wainwright combined to allow two hits and struck out five over three innings.

The 27-year-old Kinney also is also a rookie, making the climb to the major leagues from an independent league in 2001.

``They've never been in this situation before, so they don't know any better,'' Isringhausen said. ``They don't know what it's supposed to be like, they don't know what it's supposed to feel like. They're doing a great job of doing what they're doing, going in there and throwing all of their pitches.''

Isringhausen shed crutches a few days ago from his second hip operation in two years.

``That's the hardest part: I can't pitch and we're one game away from getting to where we want to be,'' Isringhausen said. ``Not being a part of it ain't a whole lot of fun. I shouldn't have gotten hurt, I guess.''

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IN DEMAND: A couple of Mets coaches could be in the running for major league managers' jobs this fall.

The San Francisco Giants are thought to be interested in New York bench coach Jerry Manuel and third-base coach Manny Acta might have a shot at the Texas Rangers' opening.

``I've encouraged and I've actually called for some of our coaching staff,'' Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. ``I think it's great that clubs have interest in some of our coaches. I have not officially gotten permission for (any) of our coaches.

``I have been contacted by clubs and they have interest in some of our coaches. I have told some general managers that they can interview them even as we go during this run, or interview between series, it's fine. What I do not want is an interview during the day of the game.''

Manuel was the 2000 AL manager of the year with the Chicago White Sox. Acta managed the Dominican Republic team during the World Baseball Classic in March.

``We have some very good candidates to be managers on our staff,'' Minaya said.

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ON CLIFF: Cliff Floyd, hobbled by an injured left Achilles tendon, grounded out as a pinch hitter for the second out of the ninth, his first appearance since reinjuring the foot in the second inning of last week's opener.

Floyd was so slow down the line that first baseman Albert Pujols, nursing a hamstring injury, had time to make a long run to the bag. Floyd, who has been replaced in left by Endy Chavez, said he won't start during the rest of the series.

``We should go with the best two legs we have, and that's Chavez,'' Floyd said. ``I don't feel like I'm in good enough shape to go out there and help us in the field.''

But he's comfortable that he can get to first if he hits the ball.

``I'll make it there. I'll make it,'' Floyd said.

Mets manager Willie Randolph has said he's waiting for Floyd to tell him he's healthy enough to play, and then Randolph will consider how he might use him.

``Cliff's been playing hurt a large part of the second half,'' general manager Omar Minaya said. ``When he's hurt, you can't play. I don't think Cliff wants to go in there being hurt and hurt the team.''

Chavez is hitting .158 (3-for-19) in the NLCS.

``We're very fortunate to have Endy Chavez come in and step up for us,'' Minaya said. ``If Cliff wants to play, he can play. ... It's about who can go out there and play, and play healthy.''

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THE ACE: Chris Carpenter, who has piled up more than 500 innings the last two seasons, insists fatigue was not a factor in his laborious Game 2 start.

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa believes him. If the timing had been right, he said Tuesday before Game 5 that he would have ``seriously considered'' starting his ace pitcher three times in either the NLCS or the World Series.

Carpenter threw a side session earlier in the week to work out difficulties with his offspeed pitches, and La Russa is confident the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner will be his old self in Game 6 Wednesday night in New York.

``There's nobody in the major leagues that's a better pitcher than Chris Carpenter,'' La Russa said. ``And I know Carp feels good. If somehow we win today and if the Mets would forfeit, we would really consider him 1, 4 and 7.''

La Russa said Carpenter's ability to minimize the damage in Game 2 is just another example of why he's so good. Carpenter was in trouble throughout and gave up five runs in five innings.

``Like I said after the game, you've got to show your greatness in different ways,'' La Russa said. ``There wasn't eight or nine (runs) on the board, that's part of why he's great, because even when he's struggling he's going to make it work.''

Carpenter said command of his repertoire was the only issue.

``In any situation all season, if you struggle with command, throwing balls in the middle of the plate and don't throw strike one and don't get ahead of the hitters, you're not going to be successful,'' he said. ``I'm looking forward to another chance.''

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NO SOLO: Since he became the Cardinals manager in 1996, Tony La Russa has mostly been on his own from mid-February to the end of the season while his family stays in Northern California.

There's been more family time this post-season with his wife, Elaine, along for the ride. So, instead of fidgeting over the lineup card into the wee hours, the schedule called for dinner and a movie.

Elaine La Russa got to pick the movie, choosing ``The Illusionist'' over ``The Departed'' after a friend warned Tony La Russa that ``there's enough killing to last you the rest of your life'' in the latter.

``Elaine wanted to see 'The Illusionist,' and I'll tell you I'd recommend that to the world,'' La Russa said. ``What a great movie.''

Getting his mind off baseball had nothing to do with La Russa using the same lineup as he had for the rainout Tuesday. He had said that would be the case before leaving Busch Stadium, merely scratching out the date and writing in the new one.