Posted: Tuesday October 26, 2004 8:53PM; Updated: Tuesday October 26, 2004 11:52PM 
| First Inning |
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Despite the solo home run by Manny Ramirez, this is an encouraging inning for St. Louis. Starter Jeff Suppan gets ahead in the count to every batter by pounding the strike zone, which is something the Cardinals did not do much of in walking 14 Red Sox the first two games. Suppan doesn't go to a 3-ball count to any of the five batters he faces. As long as keeps doing that and letting his defense to work for him, he'll be fine. |
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It's hard to blame Pedro Martinez for being overanxious for this start after watching Curt Schilling sweep New England off its feet with his recent heroics. Martinez's stuff looks great, but he's having trouble harnessing it as he walks two batters. Manny Ramirez saves him by throwing out Larry Walker at the plate for an inning-ending double play.
St. Louis 0, Boston 1; Bill Buckner Game 6 flashbacks during pregame show: 1; Big Fat Obnoxious Boss promos: 2
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| Second Inning |
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Suppan continues to work ahead in the count, retiring the side in order here. Batting eighth isn't a good spot for a hitter like Mark Bellhorn, who likes to take a lot of pitches. With the pitcher on deck behind him, Bellhorn will have to be more aggressive early in the count instead of waiting for a walk. Suppan got him on a check swing with the count 3-2. |
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Have the Cardinals missed their best chance to get to Martinez? He makes short work of the slumping Reggie Sanders, Tony Womack and Mike Matheny. Momentum remains firmly entrenched in the Boston dugout.
St. Louis 0, Boston 1; Screaming kids on the Nanny 911 commercial: 3
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| Third Inning |
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Suppan issues his first walk of the night, with two outs to Orlando Cabrera, but works out of it by jamming Ramirez and forcing a flyout. Suppan has retired seven of his past eight batters. |
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Somebody needs to order Suppan a copy of superstar Fred McGriff's instructional videotape. After reaching on an infield single and advancing to third on Renteria's double, Suppan fails to score on a slow grounder to second. To compound matters, he gets caught off the bag at third and doubled up ... with Pujols on deck! Talks about a rally killer.
St. Louis 0, Boston 1; Scooter sightings so far: 0 (thankfully)
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| Fourth Inning |
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The Red Sox keep putting together two-out rallies. Bill Mueller and Trot Nixon rake back-to-back doubles off Suppan for a 2-0 Boston lead. Suppan then plunks Bellhorn and whiffs Martinez, who couldn't look any more like an AL pitcher at the plate if he tried. |
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Martinez appears to be settling in as he plows through the heart of the order -- Rolen, Edmonds and Sanders. The pressure is mounting with every pitch for the Cards, who have five innings left to make this a series.
St. Louis 0, Boston 1; House M.D. commercials: 1; Awkward in-game manager interviews: 2
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| Fifth Inning |
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It's the fifth inning, which means Tony La Russa has to go to his bullpen. Suppan gets chased as Damon leads off with a double, Cabrera singles and Ramirez and Mueller bring them in with RBI singles. The Cardinals turn their fate over to ... Al Reyes, who saved 22 games in the Pacific Coast League this season. |
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This is turning into a highway accident scene for the Cardinals. Nothing to see here folks. Move along.
St. Louis 0, Boston 4; Awkward interviews with Larry Walker's kinfolk: 1
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| Sixth Inning |
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How do you walk Pedro? Kiko Calero somehow manages it but gets Damon to ground into an inning-ending double play. Still, walking Pedro should cost him a few sheckles in Kangaroo Court. |
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The Cardinals might have to sneak into some pinstriped uniforms if they want to get to Pedro, who breaks two bats and gets a mystified Pujols swinging to end the frame.
St. Louis 0, Boston 4; Sightings of Pedro's Mini-Me: 0
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| Seventh Inning |
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A clutch performance from a Cardinals reliever, but is it too late? Ray King comes in with two on and nobody out and gets Ortiz to ground out and Mueller to ground into a double play. Cards still have life, but it's flickering. |
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Now he's just toying with the Cardinals. Pedro gets Rolen to ground out meekly on a check swing before blowing away Edmonds and Sanders with swinging strikeouts. Just in case the Nation doesn't plan on giving Pedro any love after this gem, he runs into the clubhouse and splashes ketchup on his right sock.
St. Louis 0, Boston 4; Shots of forlorn Cardinals fans in the stands: 25
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| Eighth Inning |
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Red Sox skipper Terry Francona empties the bench, sending in Gabe Kapler and Kevin Millar to pinch hit and installing Doug Mientkiewicz at first for the obligatory late-inning defensive upgrade. Pedro is now out of the game, probably a good move by Francona considering Pedro was two pitches away from his Kryptonite barrier of 100 pitches. |
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It looks like the Cardinals are as eager to get to bed before midnight as we are. Once again, down in order, this time at the hands of setup man Mike Timlin. If nothing else, this ensures Boston closer Keith Foulke will only need three outs to finish off the Cards in the ninth.
St. Louis 0, Boston 4; Awkward interviews with Leon the Budweiser pitch man: 1
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| Ninth Inning |
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The St. Louis bullpen has taken some heat in this Series, most of it unfair. Well, it deserves praise tonight for tossing 4 1/3 scoreless innings and keeping the Cardinals in the game. |
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Moral victories don't count for much at this point, but at least the Cardinals are able to get to Foulke. The Boston closer gives up his first run in 10 postseason appearances when Walker takes him deep. You have to wonder if La Russa will start the pedestrian Jason Marquis in an elimination game tomorrow or go with Woody Williams, who threw only 70 pitches in Game 1, on short rest.
Final Score: St. Louis 1, Boston 4; Red Sox fans thinking the Series title is in the bag: 0
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