MLB : 2* <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:CITY><ST1LACE>HOUSTON</ST1LACE></ST1:CITY>
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This series is harkening back to the days of the 1987 and 1991 World Series where the home team swept on their respective fields. The Cardinals cruised at Busch in Games 1 & 2 then traveled to the “hitter friendly” <ST1LACE><ST1LACENAME>Minute</ST1LACENAME> <ST1LACENAME>Maid</ST1LACENAME> <ST1LACETYPE>Park</ST1LACETYPE></ST1LACE>.<O></O>
<ST1:CITY><ST1LACE>St. Louis</ST1LACE></ST1:CITY> has gone undefeated at Busch this post-season scoring 8 RPG but in <ST1:CITY><ST1LACE>Houston</ST1LACE></ST1:CITY> they scored only 7 runs on 15 hits. Matt Morris picked up a ND in Game 2 working 5 innings and giving up 3 runs on 6 hits while walking 5. In 11 playoff appearances the right-hander is 1-4 including 7 starts. Over his last 3 outings this season Morris is 0-2 with a 7.31 ERA.<O></O>
<ST1:CITY><ST1LACE>Houston</ST1LACE></ST1:CITY> was written off everywhere after posting a 56-60 record in mid-August but finished on a 36-10 run. The Game 5 hero was a non-B as Jeff Kent blasted a 3-run walk-off shot. The 2B is batting only .222 but has 3 HR and 10 RBI this series. Carlos Beltran saw his HR streak end at 5 games but the soon-to-be filthy rich CF is batting .462 for the post-season with 8 HR, 14 RBI and 18 runs scored. <O></O>
The man sharing credit for the Astros 3-2 series lead though is Lance Berkman who has a .410 post-season average with 4 HR and 11 RBI. Berkman is also hitting .375 against Morris.<O></O>
I don’t think Phil Garner would ever concede a game but Roger Clemens is slated to start Game 7 (if needed) with Game 2 starter Pete Munro taking the hill today. Munro wasn’t awful in his post-season debut giving up 3 runs and 6 hits thru 4+ IP.
<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O> </O>
<O> </O>
This series is harkening back to the days of the 1987 and 1991 World Series where the home team swept on their respective fields. The Cardinals cruised at Busch in Games 1 & 2 then traveled to the “hitter friendly” <ST1LACE><ST1LACENAME>Minute</ST1LACENAME> <ST1LACENAME>Maid</ST1LACENAME> <ST1LACETYPE>Park</ST1LACETYPE></ST1LACE>.<O></O>
<ST1:CITY><ST1LACE>St. Louis</ST1LACE></ST1:CITY> has gone undefeated at Busch this post-season scoring 8 RPG but in <ST1:CITY><ST1LACE>Houston</ST1LACE></ST1:CITY> they scored only 7 runs on 15 hits. Matt Morris picked up a ND in Game 2 working 5 innings and giving up 3 runs on 6 hits while walking 5. In 11 playoff appearances the right-hander is 1-4 including 7 starts. Over his last 3 outings this season Morris is 0-2 with a 7.31 ERA.<O></O>
<ST1:CITY><ST1LACE>Houston</ST1LACE></ST1:CITY> was written off everywhere after posting a 56-60 record in mid-August but finished on a 36-10 run. The Game 5 hero was a non-B as Jeff Kent blasted a 3-run walk-off shot. The 2B is batting only .222 but has 3 HR and 10 RBI this series. Carlos Beltran saw his HR streak end at 5 games but the soon-to-be filthy rich CF is batting .462 for the post-season with 8 HR, 14 RBI and 18 runs scored. <O></O>
The man sharing credit for the Astros 3-2 series lead though is Lance Berkman who has a .410 post-season average with 4 HR and 11 RBI. Berkman is also hitting .375 against Morris.<O></O>
I don’t think Phil Garner would ever concede a game but Roger Clemens is slated to start Game 7 (if needed) with Game 2 starter Pete Munro taking the hill today. Munro wasn’t awful in his post-season debut giving up 3 runs and 6 hits thru 4+ IP.