The Gambler a key
The Detroit Tigers lost five games in a row to end the regular season, and had to settle for entering the American League playoffs as the circuit’s Wild Card team. The St. Louis Cardinals only won three times over their last 10 regular season games, barely edged the Houston Astros for the division title, and wound up just five games over .500 in ’06.
And those, ladies and gentlemen, are your 2006 World Series finalists. The Tigers, of course, knocked out the New York Yankees in the opening round of the playoffs, then swept away the Oakland Athletics to win the American League pennant. The Cardinals didn’t have much trouble with the San Diego Padres in their first-round series, but had to go the distance in the NLCS against the New York Mets to make it to the Fall Classic.
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The hero of St. Louis’ NLCS Game 7 win over the Mets? Well, starting pitcher Jeff Suppan went seven strong innings, allowing just one earned run on two hits, and Adam Wainwright pitched out of a jam in the ninth inning to start the champagne celebration. However, it was catcher Yadier Molina’s two-run home run in the top of the ninth that proved to be the difference in the game. Ronnie Belliard also drove in a run in the win.
For the Mets, starter Oliver Perez surrendered just a single run on four hits over six innings of work, striking out four St. Louis batters along the way. Aaron Heilman gave up two runs on two hits in his two innings of work to get tagged with the loss. David Wright drove in New York’s lone run with an RBI single in the first, but fellow slugger Carlos Beltran struck out (Iooking, no less) with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.
Despite having home-field advantage in the set, the Mets were at a disadvantage on the mound in the NLCS – starters Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez were both sidelined by injuries. St. Louis won’t get a gift like that from the Tigers though – each of Kenny Rogers, Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson, and Justin Verlander are healthy (and rested) and ready to take their regular turns when the Series starts Saturday night.
Rogers, Bonderman, and Verlander all pitched against the Cards during an interleague series earlier in the season – a series that Detroit dominated with 10-6, 7-6, and 4-1 victories. Verlander topped Cards’ ace Chris Carpenter in Game 1 of that series, with Carpenter allowing seven runs over seven innings of work. Rogers beat Suppan in Game 2, with neither making it past the sixth inning. Bonderman was stellar in the Game 3 win (versus departed Sidney Ponson), giving up just one run in seven innings.
St. Louis’ last trip to the World Series didn’t end well – they were swept in four games by the Boston Red Sox in 2004. The Cards also lost in the World Series in 1987 (in seven games to the Minnesota Twins) and 1985 (in seven games to the Kansas City Royals). Their most recent title came back in 1982, when they outlasted the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Tigers haven’t been in the World Series since 1984, when they dispatched the San Diego Padres in five games. That victory ended a 16-year title drought for Detroit; they also won the World Series back in 1968. And their opponent for that set? The St. Louis Cardinals, who fell in seven games. St. Louis actually led that series 3-1 after winning Game 4, but Bob Gibson and company then dropped three straight contests to Detroit.
Here is the complete schedule for the 2006 World Series (all teams are Eastern).
Game 1 – Saturday, October 21 – St. Louis at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Game 2 – Sunday, October 22 – St. Louis at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Game 3 – Tuesday, October 24 – Detroit at St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Game 4 – Wednesday, October 25 – Detroit at St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Game 5 – Thursday, October 26 – Detroit at St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Game 6 – Saturday, October 28 – St. Louis at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Game 7 – Sunday, October 29 – St. Louis at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit has home-field advantage thanks to their league’s win in the All-Star Game.
