2004 National League Championship Series
| 2004 National League Championship Series | ||
|---|---|---|
Fox | ||
| TV announcers | Thom Brennaman, Steve Lyons, Bob Brenly and Chris Myers | |
| Radio | ESPN | |
| Radio announcers | Dan Shulman and Dave Campbell | |
| NLDS |
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The 2004 National League Championship Series (NLCS) 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 3-0 comeback in the ALCS.
The Cardinals would go on to lose in a sweep to the Boston Red Sox in the World Series in four games.
Summary
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros
St. Louis won the series, 4–3.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 13 | Houston Astros – 7, St. Louis Cardinals – 10 | Busch Stadium (II) | 3:15 | 52,323[1] |
| 2 | October 14 | Houston Astros – 4, St. Louis Cardinals – 6 | Busch Stadium (II) | 3:02 | 52,347[2] |
| 3 | October 16 | St. Louis Cardinals – 2, Houston Astros – 5 | Minute Maid Park | 2:57 | 42,896[3] |
| 4 | October 17 | St. Louis Cardinals – 5, Houston Astros – 6 | Minute Maid Park | 3:01 | 42,760[4] |
| 5 | October 18 | St. Louis Cardinals – 0, Houston Astros – 3 | Minute Maid Park | 2:33 | 43,045[5] |
| 6 | October 20 | Houston Astros – 4, St. Louis Cardinals – 6 (12 innings) | Busch Stadium (II) | 3:54 | 52,144[6] |
| 7 | October 21 | Houston Astros – 2, St. Louis Cardinals – 5 | Busch Stadium (II) | 2:51 | 52,140[7] |
Game summaries
Game 1
Wednesday, October 13, 2004 at
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| St. Louis | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | X | 10 | 12 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Woody Williams (1–0) LP: Chad Qualls (0–1) Sv: Jason Isringhausen (1) Home runs: HOU: Carlos Beltrán (1), Jeff Kent (1), Lance Berkman (1), Mike Lamb (1) STL: Albert Pujols (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The series opener at St. Louis'
Game 2
Thursday, October 14, 2004 at
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| St. Louis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 6 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Julián Tavárez (1–0) LP: Dan Miceli (0–1) Sv: Jason Isringhausen (2) Home runs: HOU: Carlos Beltrán (2), Morgan Ensberg (1) STL: Larry Walker (1), Scott Rolen 2 (2), Albert Pujols (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Astros scored three runs off Cardinals'
Game 3
Saturday, October 16, 2004 at
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 5 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Roger Clemens (1–0) LP: Jeff Suppan (0–1) Sv: Brad Lidge (1) Home runs: STL: Larry Walker (2), Jim Edmonds (1) HOU: Jeff Kent (2), Carlos Beltrán (3), Lance Berkman (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the first game of the series played in Houston's Minute Maid Park, the Cardinals went up 1−0 in the first on Larry Walker's one-out home run, but the Astros tied it in the bottom of the inning off Jeff Suppan on Lance Berkman's RBI single before Jeff Kent's two-run home run put them up 3−1. Jim Edmonds' leadoff home run in the second cut it to 3−2, but the Astros added two insurance runs in the eighth on home runs from Carlos Beltran off Dan Haren and Berkman off Ray King. Roger Clemens pitched seven innings for the 5−2 win, which left the Astros trailing 2–1 in the series.
Game 4
Sunday, October 17, 2004 at
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | X | 6 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Dan Wheeler (1–0) LP: Julián Tavárez (1–1) Sv: Brad Lidge (2) Home runs: STL: Albert Pujols (3) HOU: Lance Berkman (3), Carlos Beltrán (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Cardinals struck first in Game 4 when
Game 5
Monday, October 18, 2004 at
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Brad Lidge (1–0) LP: Jason Isringhausen (0–1) Home runs: STL: None HOU: Jeff Kent (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Astros defeated the Cardinals 3–0 in Game 5 with Jeff Kent driving in the winning runs with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth off Jason Isringhausen. Astros starter Brandon Backe took a perfect game into the fifth inning, when he walked Cardinals center fielder Jim Edmonds, and allowed only one hit (a single to second baseman Tony Womack in the sixth) in eight innings. The Cardinals' Woody Williams was nearly as effective, allowing only one hit (a two-out single to Jeff Bagwell in the first) and two walks over seven innings. Kent's home run was the first walkoff postseason home run for an Astro player since Alan Ashby in Game 1 of the 1981 National League Division Series.[8] Houston led the best-of-seven series 3–2 and was one win away from their first World Series appearance.
Game 6
Wednesday, October 20, 2004 at
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | R | H | E | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| St. Louis | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Julián Tavárez (2–1) LP: Dan Miceli (0–2) Home runs: HOU: Mike Lamb (2) STL: Albert Pujols (4), Jim Edmonds (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Returning to St. Louis, Matt Morris started Game 6 for the Cardinals, as did Pete Munro for the Astros. The scoring began with Carlos Beltrán walking with one out, stealing second, moving to third on a single, and scoring on Lance Berkman's sacrifice fly in the first. The Cardinals responded in the bottom of the inning with a two-run home run by Albert Pujols. In the third, Beltrán singled with two outs and scored on Jeff Bagwell's double to tie the game. Again, the Cardinals responded when Édgar Rentería hit a two-run single scoring Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen in the bottom of the inning. Mike Lamb's home run in the fourth cut the Cardinals' lead to 4−3. In the top of the ninth inning Bagwell hit a two-out single off Jason Isringhausen, scoring Morgan Ensberg for the tying run. The game went into extra innings and ended when Jim Edmonds, who hit 42 home runs in the regular season, hit a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the 12th off Dan Miceli, sending the series to a Game 7 showdown.
Game 7
Thursday, October 21, 2004 at
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| St. Louis | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | X | 5 | 9 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Jeff Suppan (1–1) LP: Roger Clemens (1–1) Sv: Jason Isringhausen (3) Home runs: HOU: Craig Biggio (1) STL: Scott Rolen (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 second by putting two men on, but, thanks to a tremendous catch by center fielder Jim Edmonds, the Cardinals were able to get out of the inning unscathed. In the third, however, the Astros made it 2–0 with Carlos Beltrán, who walked and stole second, scoring on Jeff Bagwell's sacrifice fly aided by Edmonds's error. The Cardinals cut it to 2−1 in the bottom of the inning when Tony Womack hit a leadoff double, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on Jeff Suppan's bunt groundout. Then in the sixth Albert Pujols doubled to score Roger Cedeno from third to tie the game and Scott Rolen put the Redbirds ahead with a two-run home run off Roger Clemens. St. Louis added another run in the eighth off Roy Oswalt when pinch hitter Marlon Anderson hit a leadoff double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on Larry Walker's single. Jason Isringhausen shut down Houston in the ninth to win the Cardinals their first National League pennant in 17 years.
Composite box
2004 NLCS (4–3): St. Louis Cardinals over Houston Astros
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | R | H | E | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Cardinals | 8 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 34 | 60 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Houston Astros | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 53 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total attendance: 337,655 Average attendance: 48,236 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes
- ^ a b "2004 NLCS Game 1 - Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
- ^ "2004 NLCS Game 2 - Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
- ^ "2004 NLCS Game 3 - St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
- ^ "2004 NLCS Game 4 - St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
- ^ "2004 NLCS Game 5 - St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
- ^ "2004 NLCS Game 6 - Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
- ^ "2004 NLCS Game 7 - Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
- ^ "Revisiting the walkoff wins in Astros playoff history". October 20, 2019.