The Cardinals beat the Astros 8-0 behind Chris Carpenter's complete game two-hitter. Sounds simple. But the rest wasn't. They'd have to wait a while to get all all celebratory in the locker room.
The Braves gave up a 3-2 lead to the Phillies in the ninth before folding once and for all in the 13th. Atlanta stays home. St. Louis goes to Philly for the NLDS. And no matter what Budweiser tries to tell you, the Milwaukee Brewers won the NL Central.
Meanwhile in the AL, the Red Sox and Orioles went to an hour and 25 minute rain delay in the seventh. The #lolsox took a 3-2 lead into the ninth, had the O's down to their last strike and ... failed to get a third.
RF Nolan Reimold drove the tying run in on a ground-rule double. Then, Robert Andino drove Reimold in on a ball that gimp-kneed Pat Burrell could've caught, but Carl Crawford didn't. Papelbon (L).
Then, the couple-of-minute wait was on for the end of a Yankees/Rays game that ambled its way to the 12th. This, after the Rays fought back from a 7-0 deficit, sent the game to extra innings on a two-out two-strike ninth-inning dinger by Dan Johnson. And how'd it end? Evan Longoria's 31st home run of the season.
So, it's the Yankees vs. Tigers and Rays vs. the Rangers in the AL; Phillies vs. Cardinals and Brewers vs. Diamondbacks in the NL. AL Game Ones are on Friday with the NL starting off on Saturday.
(Photo H/T David M)