ST. LOUIS – It took 11 years and someday, to be precise, however Saturday night time within the shadows of the Gateway Arch, the Philadelphia Phillies in spite of everything were given their candy revenge.
The Phillies, whose franchise used to be installed utter disarray with their shocking defeat within the 2011 NL Division Series, exorcised their ghosts by way of beating the St. Louis Cardinals, 2-0, sweeping the best-of-three wild-card sequence in entrance of a subdued sellout crowd of 48,515 at Busch Stadium.
Yes, the similar staff that ruined their baseball desires 11 years in the past, now might be sitting at house the remainder of the wintry weather with that very same ache.
The Cardinals’ season is over.
So are the fabulous careers of long term Hall of Famers Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.
The Phillies are transferring on, and can open the NL Division Series Tuesday in opposition to Atlanta, the protecting World Series champions, whilst pronouncing goodbye to the Cardinals’ icons.
“You grew up, you believe you studied Albert,’’ says Bryce Harper, who homered in his first at-bat Saturday. “You watched Yadi. [Pitcher Adam] Wainwright as neatly. These guys you grew up gazing, and now they’re on their means out, and it’s just a little unhappy for the sport, proper?
It used to be good enough for the Phillies to be just a little sentimental, dancing at the box, spraying champagne within the clubhouse, and washing away their previous.
They suffered lengthy sufficient, with the longest playoff drought within the National League, re-living that fateful sequence and epic Game 5 in opposition to the Cardinals lengthy sufficient.
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All that’s identified needless to say now’s that the Phillies in advance ended the Cardinals season, returning the want that has haunted them.
Now, it’s the Cardinals left with that very same feeling, believing they might have an extended playoff run, with Pujols going to the World Series one remaining time, most effective to have their season result in distress.
The lasting reminiscence received’t be of Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado having MVP seasons.
It might be of the 2 energy hitters disappearing within the two-game sequence, going 1-for-15 with six strikeouts.
In the Cardinals’ ultimate rally within the 8th inning, with Pujols hitting a unmarried in his ultimate at-bat, they’d runners on first and 2nd with one out, and Goldschmidt and Arenado coming to the plate.
Goldschmidt struck out.
Arenado struck out.
And they went down meekly within the 9th inning, gazing the Phillies rejoice at the box in entrance of them.
Phillies ace Aaron Nola suffocated all of the Cardinals lineup, yielding simply 4 hits in 6 2/3 shutout innings, and their bullpen did the remainder, finishing their shutout.
“It’ so nice to be again, particularly with the Phillies and this group,’’ stated Harper, whose homer used to be his first in 48 plate appearances. It’s so excellent for the fanatics, so excellent for town of Philadelphia.
“We’re again.’’
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