ST. LOUIS WINS IT ALL!!!

In what would be Lew's last season of Strato he put together a very good team trading for whatever would help him take home the P.B. Cup. Trades for Kimbrel and Holland helped his bullpen tremendously and a future trade with the same club bailing, strengthened him further...leading to a first place finish and an all important bye into the World Series.

This is important for two reasons. Proper rest for the starting rotation allowing for the order you want and possible injuries for the player you face. I put together a pretty good lineup myself trading for 4 good relievers to make up for my weak starting after Kluber. Best bench around and some good bats. A good series should be ahead.

After a hard pressed Pennant against Paul's Angels of LACALIANA - going to the 9th inning of Game 7 - my Cardinals were a bit beat up facing Lew's Braves. While I had no lasting injuries my rotation was a mess, as you will see.

GAME 1: Nelson vs Scherzer. Since Kluber and Severino went Games 6 and 7 in the Pennant (reversed as I typed it), Nelson was the next best. Lew pounced him twice before but only when he had a big inning. I take an early 2-0 lead but being in Lew's park 1-14 homeruns start popping all over. Lew ties it by the 3rd and then with two out he smacks a 3 run shot then a solo shot and I am down 6-2 unable to recover falling to Lew by that score.

GAME 2: Quintana (my 4th starter) vs Strasburg. We both go to work on these starters and I am leading 6-2 in the 3rd. But no lead is safe with Lew. While leading 9-3 and bunting to save my clowns from injury (they get hurt very easily), Lew wakes up and pounds out four runs in the 8th all against Minor and Neshek before Bradley gets out of it and Osuna closes it out. 10-7 final.

GAME 3: My ballpark now...larger...hard to hit one out. Ray vs Kluber. I am all over Ray and Lew has some issues with Kluber but he is done after 7 innings and me leading 6-2. Possible turning point - one out bases-loaded I hit SF(?). Makes it two out and I try to score since 75% chance seems better than Donaldson with bases loaded...nope...I end it. It is now the 8th and Lew wakes up yet again scoring 6 against the best bullpen I've ever had. Neshek never gets an out (8 on-base). Miller gets pounded too, he's even better. Just goes to show you can hit the other card. Now Lew's leading 8-6 and goes to Kershaw/Tepera in relief but it's my turn to go crazy, retake the lead and again pull it out this time 10-8. Osuna another save but I injure Altuve until Game 5.

GAME 4: Scherzer vs Severino. Lew hits a homerun in 1st inning and it holds up 1-0 final. I had a chance to tie it in the 8th but decided against making my last batter, a catcher, my right fielder...he would have tied it...ouch! Could have used Altuve...

GAME 5: Still at my park, we count up our innings, lots to go around. Anderson vs Nelson. It's my turn to the get the early 1-0 lead after the 1st, and with an 8th inning two run shot I win 3-0. Osuna gets his 3rd save.

GAME 6: Back to Atlanta and Lew's park. Kluber vs Strasburg. I need one more win to take it World Series and bring the Cup home for first time since the '95 season, but I don't want to throw my Quintana stiff against Scherzer in Game 7 so I need to end it now. In the top of the 1st, I get a whole bunch of rolls going me way with Bell now watching, yet strand the bases loaded with no runs. Lew leads off his half and hits one out. I retake the lead with a triple 1-2 or out and two on...and then another homerun and its 3-1. Lew answers with a solo HR but that horseshoe is starting to feel just right for me and I go nuts with lots of crazy things and tack on another four runs in the 6th. Leading 7-2 I leave Kluber in. After a couple of back and forth runs I pull it out and take game 8-4 and series 4-2.

Perhaps a little payback from my 1998 team that holds the season record 50-14 I am pretty sure, only to get swept by Lew in 4 badly.

Was a fun series. Sorry that we had to go out that way but at least the trophy stays here..lol.

Homeruns:
Gord (Cards) Donaldson 4, Correa 3, Pham 2, Altuve 2, Springer 2, Freeman and Posey...15 in total.
Lew (Braves) Blackmon 3, Gonzo 2, Cruz 2, Alonzo 2, Dozier, Suarez, Santana, Strasburg...13 in total.

Thanks again Lew...we came in together so it was only fitting that we played each other. Let us know when you want back in...you and Pup have a spot.

Gord