2005 National League Championship Series

2005 National League Championship Series
Team (Wins) Manager Season
Houston Astros (4) Phil Garner 89–73, .549, GB: 11
St. Louis Cardinals (2) Tony La Russa 100–62, .617, GA: 11
Dates: October 12 – 19
MVP: Roy Oswalt (Houston)
Television: Fox
TV announcers: Thom Brennaman, Steve Lyons and Bob Brenly
Radio: ESPN
Radio announcers: Dan Shulman and Dave Campbell
Umpires: Tim McClelland, Greg Gibson, Wally Bell, Phil Cuzzi, Larry Poncino, Gerry Davis
NLDS: St. Louis Cardinals over San Diego Padres (3–0)
  Houston Astros over Atlanta Braves (3–1)
 < 2004 NLCS 2006 > 
2005 World Series

The 2005 National League Championship Series (NLCS), the second round of the 2005 National League playoffs, matched the Central Division champion and defending league champion St. Louis Cardinals against the wild card qualifier Houston Astros, a rematch of the 2004 NLCS. The Cardinals, by virtue of having the best record in the NL during the 2005 season, had the home-field advantage. The Astros won the series four games to two, and became the National League champions; they faced the American League champion Chicago White Sox in the 2005 World Series.

The Cardinals and Astros were victorious in the NL Division Series (NLDS), with the Cardinals defeating the West Division champion San Diego Padres three games to none, and the Astros defeating the East Division champion Atlanta Braves three games to one. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa, who won AL pennants with the Oakland Athletics in 1988–89–90 and the NL flag in 2004, fell short in his bid to become the first manager in history to win multiple pennants in both major leagues. The NLCS also closed with the last game ever played at St. Louis' Busch Stadium (II), which the Cardinals departed after 40 seasons.

Summary

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros

Houston won the series, 4–2.

GameDateScoreLocationTimeAttendance
1October 12Houston Astros – 3, St. Louis Cardinals – 5Busch Stadium (II)2:2952,332[1]
2October 13Houston Astros – 4, St. Louis Cardinals – 1Busch Stadium (II)3:0352,358[2] 
3October 15St. Louis Cardinals – 3, Houston Astros – 4Minute Maid Park3:0042,823[3] 
4October 16St. Louis Cardinals – 1, Houston Astros – 2Minute Maid Park3:1143,010[4] 
5October 17St. Louis Cardinals – 5, Houston Astros – 4Minute Maid Park3:1943,470[5] 
6October 19Houston Astros – 5, St. Louis Cardinals – 1Busch Stadium (II)2:5352,438[6]

Game summaries

Game 1

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at Busch Stadium (II) in St. Louis, Missouri

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 3 7 0
St. Louis 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 X 5 8 1
WP: Chris Carpenter (1–0)   LP: Andy Pettitte (0–1)   Sv: Jason Isringhausen (1)
Home runs:
HOU: Chris Burke (1)
STL: Reggie Sanders (1)

In the series opener, the Cardinals won 5–3 behind a strong pitching performance by Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter and a two-run home run by Reggie Sanders in the first inning. Houston starter Andy Pettitte was struck by a batted ball during batting practice but made the start as scheduled.

Game 2

Thursday, October 13, 2005 at Busch Stadium (II) in St. Louis, Missouri

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 4 11 1
St. Louis 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 6 0
WP: Roy Oswalt (1–0)   LP: Mark Mulder (0–1)   Sv: Brad Lidge (1)
Home runs:
HOU: None
STL: Albert Pujols (1)

Roy Oswalt provided the lift the Astros needed, scattering five hits over seven innings. The Cardinal bullpen continued its playoff struggles, giving up two runs in the eighth. Brad Lidge continued his dominance over the Cardinals, pitching the final two innings for the save.

Game 3

Saturday, October 15, 2005 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
St. Louis 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 3 7 1
Houston 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 X 4 11 0
WP: Roger Clemens (1–0)   LP: Matt Morris (0–1)   Sv: Brad Lidge (2)
Home runs:
STL: None
HOU: Mike Lamb (1)

Roger Clemens pitched a solid six innings, Chad Qualls pitched two hitless innings, and Brad Lidge gave up the first run he has allowed against the Cardinals since May 29, 2003, but held on for the save to give the Astros a 2–1 series lead. It was Clemens' twelfth career postseason win, and his fifth in League Championship Series games.

Game 4

Sunday, October 16, 2005 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
St. Louis 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 1
Houston 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 X 2 6 0
WP: Chad Qualls (1–0)   LP: Jason Marquis (0–1)   Sv: Brad Lidge (3)
Home runs:
STL: None
HOU: Jason Lane (1)

Brandon Backe provided a strong outing, and the Astro bullpen continued its strong performance. Tony La Russa and Jim Edmonds were both ejected for arguing balls and strikes on separate instances—LaRussa in the bottom of the seventh, Edmonds in the top of the eighth, at a key moment. Edmonds's ejection came with a 3–2 count, two outs, and a runner on base. Edmonds was replaced by pinch hitter John Rodríguez, who flied out to deep center field to end the scoring threat. The Cardinals once again had an opportunity to tie the game or take the lead in the ninth inning against closer Brad Lidge. Albert Pujols and Larry Walker led off the inning with back-to-back singles, putting runners at first and third base with no outs. Reggie Sanders grounded to third; Pujols went home on contact and was thrown out at the plate. Larry Walker advanced to third when the Astros failed to call timeout after the play at the plate. John Mabry ended the threat by grounding into a double play. La Russa's ejection marked the first time a manager was ejected from a postseason game since 1998, when Mike Hargrove was thrown out of a game between his Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees. Houston was one game away from the franchise's first visit to the World Series after a 2–1 Game 4 win.

Game 5

Monday, October 17, 2005 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
St. Louis 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 5 9 1
Houston 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 4 9 2
WP: Jason Isringhausen (1–0)   LP: Brad Lidge (0–1)
Home runs:
STL: Albert Pujols (2)
HOU: Lance Berkman (1)

Lance Berkman erased a 1–2 Astros deficit and gave excited Astros fans a 4–2 lead with one swing on a pitch from Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Astros were one strike away from claiming their first NL Pennant and trip to the Fall Classic before David Eckstein singled with no one on base, Jim Edmonds walked, and Albert Pujols hit a dramatic, towering three-run home run off Astros closer Brad Lidge that bounced off the side of the closed Minute Maid Park roof before landing on the railroad tracks in left field. The home run gave the Cardinals a 5–4 lead in the top of the ninth inning and, eventually, a 5–4 win. The Cardinals guaranteed that another game would be played at historic Busch Stadium (II). The win also broke the Cardinals' seven-game losing streak in road NLCS games. The game was eerily reminiscent of Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS between the California Angels and the Boston Red Sox. The Angels were one strike away from going to the franchise's first trip to the World Series in front of their home crowd when Dave Henderson hit a two-run home run off Angels closer Donnie Moore in a game the Red Sox went on to win in extra innings. The Red Sox won the final two games of the series in Boston to complete the comeback from a three games to one deficit. The Astros' lead was trimmed to two games to one in the series.

Game 6

Wednesday, October 19, 2005 at Busch Stadium (II) in St. Louis, Missouri

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston 0 0 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 5 11 0
St. Louis 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 1
WP: Roy Oswalt (2–0)   LP: Mark Mulder (0–2)
Home runs:
HOU: Jason Lane (2)
STL: None

The Astros shook off the effects of their Game 5 loss, and rolled to win their first National League pennant in 44 seasons of existence with a decisive 5–1 win over the Cardinals. Roy Oswalt pitched seven strong innings and Jason Lane contributed with a home run as the visiting Houston Astros defeated St. Louis which would become the final game at Busch Stadium (II).

Roy Oswalt was named the series MVP. In two starts, he went 2–0 with a 1.29 ERA in fourteen innings.

Composite box

2005 NLCS (4–2): Houston Astros over St. Louis Cardinals

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston Astros 0 2 2 4 1 3 7 2 1 22 55 3
St. Louis Cardinals 2 1 2 1 4 2 0 0 4 16 39 5
Total attendance: 286,431   Average attendance: 47,739

Notes

  1. ↑ "2005 NLCS Game 1 - Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  2. ↑ "2005 NLCS Game 2 - Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  3. ↑ "2005 NLCS Game 3 - St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  4. ↑ "2005 NLCS Game 4 - St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  5. ↑ "2005 NLCS Game 5 - St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  6. ↑ "2005 NLCS Game 6 - Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.

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