Cardinals take 2 in Cincy

sept 20:  Cardinals 3  Reds 2

Mike Matheny's 8th inning solo homer gave Cardinals come from behind win in game 1.  Matheny's fielder's choice ground out in the 4th inning had given Cardinals early 1-0 lead but Reds got one in the 5th on Ludwick's homer run and a lead run in the 6th on Jay Bruce's double.  J. Cueto was too tired to continue and Reds reliever Alfredo Simon wild pitched in the tying run in the 7th. Jason Isringhausen got the save.

sept 21: Cardinals 8 Reds 4

Cardinals used the long ball to their advantage to take game 2. Larry Walker hit a solo  homer in the first inning. Albert Pujol erased 3-1 Reds lead with 3 run homer in the 6th, and Jim Edmonds hit 2 run homer in the 7th. Jas Marquis finished 5 innings for the win and Cards bullpen allowed only 1 run in last 4 innings. Ryan Ludwick had 3 hits and a pair of rbis for the Reds.

sept 22:  Reds 5 Cardinals 4 (10 innings)

 Brandon Phillips scored the winning run on Jim Edmonds wild throw to home plate after catching Ryan Ludwicks fly ball in bottom of the 10th. It was the 4th Cardinal error of the game. The Reds did not get a hit until the 6th inning when an error and 3 doubles gave them a 3-2 lead. Edgar Renteria's single tied the game in the 7th and So Taguchi's rbi single in the  8th gave the Cardinals a 4-3 lead heading into the 9th. Jason Isringhausen could not put the game away  as with one out, Navarro got a pinch hit single and Hanigan doubled him to 3rd. Drew Stubbs squeeze bunt then tied the game. In one of the many game oddities, Yadier Molina stole a base although he did not have any in 2004. There were 5 total errors in the game, 3 by the third basemen. Cingrani got the win although he loaded the bases in the 10th on a single and 2 walks.