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2006 World Series Game 5 recap
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DTMagazine Home Player comparisons and series prediction
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St. Louis Cardinals 4 Detroit Tigers 2
Rick Gagliano | 10/27/06
Facing elimination, the Detroit Tigers tried in vain to derail the streaking Cardinals en route to another World Series victory for the National League's most storied and successful franchise. The Cardinals took game five, 4-2 and the series four games to one to climax the 2006 baseball season.
The Cardinals sent Jeff Weaver to the mound, who took the only loss for St. Louis in game 2. Justin Verlander, who took the loss in game one, wass the Tigers' hurler. Verlander who was sensational in the regular season, winning 17 games, has been atrocious in the post-season. in three starts, he's 1-1 with a 7.47 ERA, surrendering 20 hits, 7 walks and 14 runs over 15 2-3 innings.
Weaver set down the Tigers in order in the first, striking out the first two batters he faced.
In the Cardinals half of the first, Duncan walked with one out and took second on a wild pitch by Verlander. Pujols also walked. After Edmonds flew out to left, Verlander uncorked another wild pitch, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd and then walked Rolen to load the bases. However, Carlos Guillen bailed out the nervous rookie with a spectacular play, ranging deep behind 2nd, robbing Belliard and throwing him out at first.
Molina, who led off the 2nd with a single to center and reached third on consecutive ground outs by Taguchi and Weaver, scored on a scorcher down the 3rd base line by Eckstein, who took second on Inge's wild throw to first. Duncan struck out looking for out #3.
The Tigers struck for two runs in the 4th, when Chris Duncan dropped a fly ball hit by Ordonez. Sean Casey then launched a ball down the right field line for a home run, putting the Tigers on top 2-1.
Belliard flied out to start the bottom of the 4th, but Molina and Taguchi reached on consecutive singles. Weaver bunted right back to Verlander, but the pitcher threw the ball past 3rd baseman Inge and into foul territory - the 5th error by a Detroit pitcher in the series. Molina scored and Taguchi ended up at third as Weaver took second. Eckstein grounded hard to Guillen whose only play was to first. Taguchi scored, Weaver to third. Duncan popped out to short, but the Cardinals were back on top, 3-2.
The Tigers simply could not generate any offense against Jeff Weaver who finished 8 innings, allowing only 4 hits and 2 runs, 1 earned. He also tied his season high of 9 strikeouts.
Adam Wainwright came on to pitch the ninth and retired the leadoff man, Guillen. Casey, the hottest Detroit batter, doubled to right-center and was lifted for a pinch runner, Santiago. Rodriguez bounced back to Wainwright for the second out. Polanco, 0 for 17, worked out a free pass to put runners on 1st and 3rd. But Wainwright and the Cards would not be denied. Wainwright struck out Brandon Inge on three pitches and it was over. The St. Louis Cardinals, heavy underdogs to the Mets in the NLCS and the Tigers in the World Series, were champions of the world.
The Cardinals outscored the Tigers 22-11. David Eckstien was awarded the MVP Trophy.
Notes: La Russa brings the 5th different Cardinal lineup, though ostensibly this one is nearly the same as game 1, sans the DH and Juan Encarnacion, who batted sixth in game one. The 7-8-9 hitters, Belliard, Molina, Taguchi all move up a spot.
Leyland submits a carbon copy of game 4, keeping Polanco at 2nd and in the 7 hole, despite his 0 for 14 performance.
The Tigers have already set a series record, with 4 errors by their pitchers.
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