Bayern Trupp » Its frustrating for sure

(SportsNetwork.com) - With the way the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates battled for the National League Central crown, its only fitting that their National League Division Series would come down to a decisive fifth game. St. Louis tries to get back into the NLCS for the third straight year, while the Pirates target their first postseason series win since 1979, as the divisional foes play a winner take all showdown at Busch Stadium. "You live for those situations," Pittsburgh star Andrew McCutchen said. "This is the game that we play. They didnt say it was going to be easy getting here to where we are. Weve done a good job of getting in this position. We live for all those moments. Anything can happen in this game." On Wednesday, though, the Cards turn to their ace in Adam Wainwright, who tied for the NL lead with 19 wins and was marvelous in his Game 1 start versus the Pirates, as he allowed just one run and struck out nine in seven innings. "Were always excited to see Adam Wainwright on the mound," Cards manager Mike Matheny said after the Cardinals 2-1 win over the Pirates in Game 4 on Monday. "Hes the ace of our staff. These guys, they get a lot of energy every time he has the mound." Wainwright has won his last five decisions, posting a 1.71 ERA (eight earned runs in 42 innings) over that stretch. Hes also 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA in three postseason starts (seven appearances) in St. Louis. "Its the biggest game of the year, isnt it? Thats what I always tell these guys," Wainwright said. "Every start of mine is the biggest game of the year. Its a big-time game against a good opponent, and Im looking forward to doing it." While it may have been a no-brainer that Wainwright would be taking the hill for St. Louis, Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle had a decision to make. He could have gone with Game 1 starter A.J. Burnett, who was pounded for seven runs in two-plus innings, or turn to rookie Gerrit Cole, who gave up one run in six innings to win Game 2. In the end, it wasnt really a choice, as Hurdle went with the 23-year-old righty Cole. "We have one game to win," said Hurdle. "As Ive done and Ive challenged the guys to do, we need to do the best we can to win that next game. I believe that matchup is the best we can do to beat the Cardinals in Game 5." Cole was as good as any pitcher in baseball down the stretch, going 4-0 over his final five starts, while pitching to a 1.69 ERA. He carried that into the postseason and was more than effective versus the Cardinals on Friday, retiring 11 in a row at one point. "Its obviously a great opportunity for me to go out there and give my team a chance to win," Cole said. "This is obviously an exciting time, a high- pressure situation, and this is what you prepare for all year. This is why you work out in the offseason, for moments like this, to be mentally and physically ready to go. Its extremely exciting and I cant wait." The Pirates can only hope that Cole delivers the way St. Louis rookie Michael Wacha did in Game 4, as he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and helped the Cards stave off elimination. "We did a lot of gushing about him before we even got him out there today, and I think everybody sees why," Matheny said. "I dont know if you can put a kid in a tougher spot. He came out and just made pitches all day long. Hes just got a knack of getting up there and [being] very business-like getting the job done." The Cardinals, who received an MLB-best 36 victories from rookie hurlers en route to the NL Central title, are now 7-1 in postseason elimination games over the past three years. "I think you take high-talent and high-character people that are motivated and support each other, and they dont give up. Thats a tough combination," said Matheny of his team. "Its just an honor to watch them do the thing day-in and day-out." St. Louis survived despite managing just three hits, but one was a two-run homer from Matt Holliday off Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton that broke a scoreless deadlock in the top of the sixth. Holliday had a single earlier in the contest. Morton (0-1) lasted 5 2/3 innings, surrendering all three hits and walking four. "Charlie pitched extremely well," Hurdle said. "I think the cowboys say, he drew a tough bull today." Pedro Alvarez homered in Mondays loss and is the first Pirate to drive in runs his first five postseason games, and the first since Willie Stargell in 1979 to hit at least three homers in one postseason. Since the beginning of the 2012 season and including these playoffs, Alvarez has crushed Cardinals pitching to the tune of 12 homers and 37 RBI. Pittsburgh won the season series, 10-9, but was just 3-6 in St. Louis. "Weve played them close," Hurdle said. "It has been a very respectful, challenged series." Wednesdays winner will play Los Angeles on Friday in Game 1 of the NLCS. Custom Arizona Cardinals Jerseys . TSNs Farhan Lalji reports the Edmonton Eskimos non-import DT has a workout scheduled with an NFL team next week and isnt expected to sign a deal with any team until then. Custom Miami Heat Jerseys . A lovely summer day in England with abundant sunshine and minimal wind allowed him to attack Royal Liverpool. https://www.cheapcustomjerseysonline.com...ccer-jerseys/.Y. - Matt Harvey wants to make sure hes on the mound in late October — if the New York Mets get there for the first time since 2006. Custom Dallas Mavericks Jerseys . The mood in Seattle was electrified as the parade featuring the NFL champions began near the Space Needle and made its way to CenturyLink Field, the home of the team. At a ceremony inside the stadium, the team thanked its loyal followers -- the 12th Man -- capping a day of boisterous celebration that drew an estimated 700,000 revelers to Seattle. Custom Los Angeles Lakers Jerseys . Ronaldo netted his 14th goal of the season in Europes top competition to give Madrid a clear advantage ahead of next weeks quarterfinal return leg in Germany. But it came at a price as the Portugal forward, who came into the first-leg nursing a sore left knee, came off in the 80th minute. RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Edmonton Oilers used a late-power-play goal to get a hard-fought road victory. Justin Schultz scored with the man advantage at 9:01 of the third period and the Edmonton Oilers earned a 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. David Perron and Taylor Hall had the assists on Schultzs ninth goal of the season as part of his third multi-point game of the season. "Yeah, it was a good road effort for us," Shultz said. "We battled hard all game." Matt Hendricks opened the scoring at 6:43 of the first to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead. Boyd Gordon and Schultz had the assists on Hendricks fifth goal of the season. The goal was his first since Feb. 3, and third with Edmonton after being acquired from Nashville on Jan. 15. Hendricks outskated Hurricanes defenceman Ryan Murphy to the puck behind the Carolina net and attempted to pass it back to Edmonton centre Anton Lander. The puck deflected off Hurricanes defenceman Jay Harrisons stick as he trailed to defend on the play and the puck ended up behind Khudobin to give Edmonton the early lead. Edmonton goalie Ben Scrivens made 29 saves for the win. "Hes been great," Hendricks said of Scrivens performance. "Our tandem (of goalies) has been outstanding. Since I got here, goaltending has been number one, the backbone of this team, and it continued again tonight." Khudobin made 31 saves for the Hurricanes while the Oilers dominated play throughout the early part of the first period. Carolinas Jordan Staal tied it at 1-1 with 17.2 seconds remaining in the opening period as his brother Eric Staal and defenceman Justin Faulk helped set up the play. It was Staals 14th goal of the season and extended his point streak to six games, giving him thrree goals and six assists during that span.dddddddddddd Staals shot attempt was deflected high toward Scrivens after it caromed of Perrons stick as he tried to block it. As Scrivens effort to slap the puck away with his blocker was ineffective, Staal batted it past him and into the net to tie the game. "It was a great team effort," Oilers coach Dallas Eakins said. "I thought our penalty kill sparked us. Theres a lot of sacrifice out there blocking those shots and it really got our bench ignited, and finally our power play was able to chip in and win us the game." Edmonton finished 1 for 4 on the power play and Carolina was 0 for 3. The Hurricanes continued ineffectiveness with the power play left coach Kirk Muller struggling to explain it. "Weve changed personnel around, tried guys in different positions, but at the end of the day, its just not getting results," Muller said. "Obviously, it hasnt been there. At the end of the day, you just (gotta) get the job done." Despite the loss, the Hurricanes are trying to stay positive. "Its frustrating," Jordan Staal said. "Theres times when we play so well and do a lot of good things, playing smart and doing those things. Then there are times when its just not working. Its frustrating for sure." Notes: Hurricanes forward Radek Dvorak did not return to play in the third period, suffering an upper body injury. ... At puck drop, Carolinas Jiri Tlusty was scratched with a lower-body injury which moved Nathan Gerbe into his spot on a line with Jordan Staal and Alexander Semin. ... Defenceman Mike Komisarek was also a healthy scratch and John-Michael Liles remained out with a concussion, missing his fifth straight game for the Hurricanes. ' ' 'hier and Michael Joly scored for Rimouski (33-15-7) while Sebastien Sylvestre and Anthony DeLuca each tacked on two assists. Jerome Verrier led the Voltigeurs (34-19-3) with five shots against Desrosiers, but was also a team-worst minus-2. Drummondvilles Louis-Phillip Guindon gave up three goals on 10 shots before giving way to Joe Fleschler, who kicked out all 13 shots his way in 37 minutes of relief. --- ' ' '