Albert Pujols, Cardinals Tie up NLCS in 12-3 Rout of Brewers

“Sometimes, you’re going to get spanked a little bit.” - Nyjer Morgan

Thanks to five RBI by Albert Pujols and some additional run support from guys like David Freese and Nick Punto, the St. Louis Cardinals evened up the National League Championship Series at a game a-piece with a 12-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers Monday night.

After producing just one run in his team's first six postseason games this year, Pujols went 4-for-5 with a home run and three doubles to power St. Louis past Milwaukee. That must have felt pretty good after screwing up royally during Game 1 when he hit into a broken-bat double play representing the tying run in the seventh.

Rickie Weeks nailed a two-run shot in the fourth and Ryan Braun went 2-for-4, but failed to drive in any runs. Prince Fielder did his part with a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth, but unfortunately for the Brew Crew, it was too little, too late. Nyjer Morgan and all of his trash-talk is 0-for-4 against the Cards so far this round.

Both bullpens got a lot of work in after both starters were chased in the fourth inning. Milwaukee’s Shaun Marcum looked just plain ugly out there, coughing up five runs on seven hits and taking the loss. St. Louis starter Edwin Jackson surrendered the Weeks homer along with seven hits and a walk before his exit in the fourth.

The Cards are headed home for Game 3 Wednesday evening with ace Chris Carpenter on the hill against Yovani Gallardo at 8:05pm ET on TBS.

[USA Today]

Yovani Gallardo, Prince Fielder Lift Brewers Over Diamondbacks in NLDS Game One

Backed by a solid outing by Yovani Gallardo, Prince Fielder capped the run support for the Milwaukee Brewers' 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game One of their NLDS.

Gallardo went eight awesome innings, surrendering just the one run on four hits, walking one and striking out nine for his very first postseason victory. He simply out-dueled opposing pitcher and NL Cy Young candidate Ian Kennedy, matching a Brewers record in K's for the postseason.

Jerry Hairston, Jr. kicked off the scoring with a sacrifice fly that scored Ryan Braun in the fourth before Jonathan Lucroy added an RBI single in the sixth. The very next inning, Fielder smashed an effortless bomb into deep right field to give the Brewers a 4-0 lead.

Enjoy Tonight's 2010 MLB All-Star Game

The MLB All-Star game is still an exhibition, but it means more than any other All-Star game in any other sport. The winning league of tonight's 8pm ET game on FOX will gain home field advantage in the World Series. Kind of a big deal, as it has been since the game ended horribly in a 7-7 tie in 2002 at Miller Park.

Some changes to this year's contest include the adoption of the designated hitter, regardless of what league's ballpark is holding the event. This means pitchers won't have to worry about injuring themselves on a whiff and one more National League slugger gets a shot at making the roster.

They Say Good Things Come In Threes

Badassery abounded in triplicate last night for Mariners' tradebait hurler Cliff Lee and Twins centerfieder Denard Span.

Lee pitched his third complete game in as many tries, defeating the World Champion Yankees. Despite giving up two homers to Nick Swisher, Lee pitched his little heart out to go all nine last night. He was lights out against A-Rod, who went 0-4 last night, and issued just one walk - his first in thirty eight innings - to drive up his trade value before the deadline. It was his fifth complete game of the season, which is hard to come by these days.

The Yovani Gallardo Show

Now that I've sobered up (kinda) from my super funtastic live-blogging experience over at the incomparable Walkoff Walk, where I only blew the internet up one time, which hardly anyone even noticed, and only had one beer per Johan Santana strikeout, it's time to talk about the awesomeness that is Yovani Gallardo.

Michael Young Injury Update

Texas Rangers shortstop Michael Young will be sidelined for another week after undergoing surgery to fix a gash in the cartilage of his left ear. Young was beaned in the left side of his helmet (on a changeup) by White Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd on Tuesday.

Young's stitches will be taken out next Wednesday, so for the time-being doctors have warned him to stay inside to avoid the risk of infection. This means no baseball.

Young is going to be fine, but is unable to wear a helmet until it heals, mostly due to comfort. He hopes to report back to camp on Friday, where he will be able to play on the field, but avoid any BP.

Outfielder Nelson Cruz had to be scratched from the lineup as well, because of more dizzy spells from when he was smoked in the head by a Yovani Gallardo (MIL) fastball on Monday.