2004 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

The '2004 National League Championship Series' was a Major League Baseball playoff series played from October 13 to 21 to determine the champion of the National League, between the Central Division champion St. Louis Cardinals and the wild-card qualifying Houston Astros. This marked the first time in either major league that two teams from the Central Division met in a Championship Series.
In a series in which all seven games were won by the home team, the Cardinals won 4-3 to advance to the World Series against the American League champion Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox reached their first World Series since 1986, with the Cardinals playing in their first since 1987. While the NLCS was an exciting back-and-forth series, it was overshadowed in media attention by Boston's comeback in the ALCS.
'Managers:' Tony La Russa (St. Louis), Phil Garner (Houston)
'Umpires:' Tim Welke, Eric Cooper, Gary Darling, Mike Winters, Angel Hernandez, Ed Rapuano
'Series MVP:' Albert Pujols (St. Louis)
'Television: FOX' (Thom Brennaman, Steve Lyons, and Bob Brenly announcing)

Contents

Matchups

Game 1

Game 2

Game 3

Game 4

Game 5

Game 6

Game 7

Quote of the Series

Matchups

Game	Score	Date
1	'St. Louis 10', Houston 7	October 13, 2004
2	'St. Louis 6', Houston 4	October 14, 2004
3	'Houston 5', St. Louis 2	October 16, 2004
4	'Houston 6', St. Louis 5	October 17, 2004
5	'Houston 3', St. Louis 0	October 18, 2004
6	'St. Louis 6', Houston 4	October 20, 2004
7	'St. Louis 5', Houston 2	October 21, 2004

Game 1

October 13: In the series opener at St. Louis' Busch Stadium, the Cardinals break open a 4-4 game with six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, and hold on for a 10-7 win over the Astros.

Game 2

October 14: The Cardinals beat the Astros 6-4 and take a 2-0 lead in the series. The Cardinals break a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with back-to-back home runs from Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen; Rolen also hit a game-tying homer in the fifth inning.

Game 3

October 16: In the first game of the series played in Houston's Minute Maid Park, the Astros defeat the Cardinals 5-2 behind home runs by Jeff Kent, Carlos Beltrán, and Lance Berkman. Roger Clemens pitches seven innings for the win, which leaves the Astros trailing 2-1 in the series.

Game 4

October 17: The Astros even the series with the Cardinals at two games apiece with a 6-5 win. Carlos Beltrán supplies the winning margin with a solo home run in the seventh inning. Beltrán ties records for the most home runs in a single postseason (eight) and most consecutive postseason games with a home run (five).

Game 5

October 18: The Astros defeat the Cardinals 3-0. Jeff Kent drives in the winning runs with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth. Astros starter Brandon Backe takes a perfect game into the fifth inning, when he walked Cardinals center fielder Jim Edmonds, and allows only one hit (a single to second baseman Tony Womack) in eight innings. Houston leads the best-of-seven series 3-2.

Game 6

October 20: Returning to St. Louis, Matt Morris starts game 6 for the Cardinals, as does Pete Munro for the Astros. The scoring begins with Carlos Beltrán coming home in the top of the first off of a sacrifice fly. The Cardinals respond in the bottom of the first with a 2 run homer by the red-hot Albert Pujols. In the third, Jeff Bagwell hits a double for Astros, bringing Carlos Beltrán back home and putting another one for the Astros. Again, the Cardinals respond when Edgar Renteria hits a single scoring Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen.
In the top of the ninth inning, 2 outs from losing, Bagwell hits a miracle single, scoring the tying run in Morgan Ensberg. The game goes into extra innings, but the Astros' good fortune turned sour when Jim Edmonds hits a walk-off homer in the bottom of the twelfth, sending the series to a Game 7 showdown.

Game 7

October 21: The final, deciding Game 7 started off with Astros' leadoff man Craig Biggio smacking a home run in the game's first at-bat off Cardinals' starter Jeff Suppan to make it 1-0. The Astros' threat continued in the 2nd by putting two men on, but thanks to a tremendous catch by Jim Edmonds the Cardinals were able to get out of the inning unscathed. In the 3rd, however, the Astros made it 2-0 with Carlos Beltran scoring on a passed ball from Edmonds to third baseman Scott Rolen. The Cardinals were able to battle back, scoring Tony Womack on a squeeze play, cutting the lead to 2-1. Then in the 6th Albert Pujols doubled to tie the game and Scott Rolen put the Redbirds ahead with a two run home run off Roger Clemens. St. Louis added another insurance run and Jason Isringhausen shut down Houston in the 9th to win the Cardinals their first National League pennant in 17 years.

Quote of the Series

★ ''"On the ground to second, and for the first time since 1987, the St. Louis Cardinals are going to the World Series!"'' -Thom Brennaman of FOX Sports calling the Final out a ground ball from Tony Womack to series MVP Albert Pujols

★ ''"Edmonds hit 42 home runs during the regular season... and WE ARE GOING TO GAME 7 OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES!!''" -Brennaman's call on Jim Edmonds walkoff Home run in Game 6.

★ ''"You know I think it's a safe thing to do, Kent rarely hits the ball to the right side"''

:''"Kent waits...IN THE AIR..WE GO TO ST. LOUIS WITH HOUSTON IN FRONT THREE GAMES TO TWO!!"'' -Bob Brenly and Thom Brennaman on Jeff Kent's walk-off home run in Game 5

★ ''"Kent is 0 for 3 tonight, 3 for 17 in the series. 2 of his 3 hits in the series have been homers. Lets see if he can step on the clutch here. 2 on, 1out bottom of the 9th. Isringhausen delivers...... DRIVING IT...WAY BACK INTO LEFT FIELD....ITS UP.....ITS OVER....ITS GONE ITS GONE!!!!!! BIG HOME RUN BY KENT!!!!!! HOLY TOLEDO WHAT A HIT!!!!!!"'' -Milo Hamilton

★ ''"Oh my goodness...yea I believe. There's bedlem at home plate for the Astros as they bombard Jeff Kent. It couldn't get any better than this...Or could it?"'' -Alan Ashby on Jeff Kent's Walk-Off Home run in Game 5

★ ''"In the past, Edmonds has proven that he has a flair for the dramatic. We're in the 12th inning. SWING AND A LONG ONE! WE GO TO GAME SEVEN...A GAME WINNING HOME RUN! ...A flair for the dramatic!"'' -Wayne Hagin on Edmonds' Game Six Home run.

★ "''Izzy gets the sign. He checks, he kicks, he pitches. Swing and a ground ball to the second baseman. Womack has it, he throws...WE'RE GOING TO BOSTON, FOLKS! WE'RE GOING TO BOSTON! THE CARDINALS ARE NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!"'' -Mike Shannon calls the last out of Game 7