A slow, helpless gaze fell upon Oliver Perez as Scott Rolen followed through on his swing. It was all too familiar for him. Perez was once a prodigy in the Pirates’ farm system that was projected to be an ace and a savior. That seemed like so long ago. As the ball kept floating onward into a cold, drizzling October night in Flushing, it seemed as if the hopes for a World Series went with it.
The Mets had other plans.
Left-fielder Endy Chavez, a journeyman utility player whose only purpose in the starting lineup due to an injury to starter Cliff Floyd, made a catch that would make Hall of Famer and former Met Willie Mays jealous. Chavez took off from the warning track, leapt into the air, and somehow precluded Rolen’s guaranteed home run from going over the fence.
Fast-forward to the 8th, with the Cardinals once again threatening. With Aaron Heilman on the mound, yet another ball flew off the bat of a hitter to deep left, this time catcher Yadier Molina. Chavez drifted back, and the Shea faithful held their breath and prayed. This time, though, there would be no leap, no web gem, no game-changing play. Molina’s ball sailed beyond the fence, and the Cardinals’ dugout erupted into a complete frenzy.
Now the moment belonged to Molina. Yadier, more known for his glove than his bat had answered in the biggest of stages is the younger brother of Bengie Molina, the catcher of the 2002 World Series champion Anaheim Angels. He has been a key component to the Cardinals run all postseason, hitting an astonishing .333 with two home runs and seven runs batten in. This from a guy who barely hit .200 in the regular season.
Now, thanks to him, they’re heading to Detroit.
Thanks to Molina, St. Louis is headed to the World Series.
That’s the beauty of a Game 7: anyone can be a hero. Molina was one of many for the Cardinals. Jeff Suppan pitched an absolute gem, going seven strong innings while allowing only one earned run on a David Wright single in the bottom of the first. After that, Suppan stifled the Mets’ offense, a highly touted group known for its slugging prowess.
Tonight, though, they could only muster two hits. Tonight, it was not nearly enough.
Despite getting out to an early lead, the Mets were unable to hold a lead for even a full inning. The Cardinals came back and tied up the game in the top of the 2nd with a Ronnie Belliard sacrifice bunt. In typical “small ball” fashion, the second baseman pushed the ball to the right side to take advantage of a Mets’ defense looking for a double play. Luckily for New York, Perez was able to limit the damage, striking out Jeff Suppan, stranding a runner on second, to end the inning.
The two pitchers would engage in a classic pitchers’ duel for the next few innings. The only resemblance of an offensive threat came in the top of the 5th. Perez got himself into trouble after allowing a lead-off hit to Ronnie Belliard. Suppan sacrificed Belliard to second, and Eckstein followed by reaching base on a hit-by-pitch. Although he appeared to be reeling, Perez responded with authority. He struck out Preston Wilson swinging on a mid-90 fastball for the second out.
The next hitter? Reigning 2005 NL MVP Albert Pujols. Mets’ manager Willie Randolph elected to pitch to the slugger, and the decision paid off. Perez induced Pujols into a soft pop-up to left to end the inning. A relieved Perez walked off the field, receiving a large ovation from the Shea crowd.
In the 6th, it looked as if the Cardinals had the game once again as Scott Rolen lined a ball to deep left. One unreal catch later, the Mets had all the momentum in the world.
All the signs pointed to the Mets somehow finding a way to win the game. As strong as Oliver Perez and the Mets’ bullpen was, they could not turn the Cardinals away. They finally broke through in the 8th to take a commanding two-run lead. Molina’s home run not off Heilman not only gave the Cardinals a much-needed left to counter Chavez’s catch, but also took the air out of the Mets’ spirits and the boisterous Shea crowd.
Adam Wainwright, a second-year player who took over the closers’ role after Jason Isringhausen went down with an injury, came into a difficult situation to try to close at Game 7. Much to the credit of the Mets, they did not go quietly. They got the first two runners on after back-to-back singles by Jose Valentin and Endy Chavez. Wainwright got two quick outs after Cliff Floyd struck out and Jose Reyes lined out to center. Paul LoDuca, the unquestioned clubhouse leader for the Amazins, worked a walk and kept the rally alive.
At that point, the only thing that stood between St. Louis and the World Series was Carlos Beltran. Beltran, three home runs in the series and has seven postseason home runs against the Birds, was the million-dollar signing that brought hope back to Queens. Beltran was the man that everyone wanted up in a big situation.
But not tonight. Tonight, Wainwright got the better end of the battle. The young righty struck out Beltran looking on a filthy curveball, sending the Mets home and the Cardinals and their fans into a bittersweet celebration that lasted well into the autumn night.
The beauty of a Game 7: the All-star player goes home depressed; the young, upstart closer celebrates. Tonight belongs to Suppan, the starter who emerged, Molina, the unheralded hitter who answered the call, and Wainwright, the youngster that ended the threat.
Tonight belongs to the Cardinals.
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