Take 2 Roundup: Playoffs, Thu, 5/8/08

[bernieh]

[size=24:22848266e6][b:22848266e6]MAY THE FORSCH BE IN THE CARDS[/b:22848266e6][/size:22848266e6]
[size=18:22848266e6]St. Louis Shuts Out Houston; Evens NLCS at 1 Game Apiece[/size:22848266e6]

<img src="http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/images/baseball/stratomatic/1986/story_photos/bob_forsch_150x203.jpg" align="left" border="1" width="150" height="203" style="margin-right: 10px;" /> The Cardinals wrested home-field advantage from the Astros using a familiar formula for success - pitching, defense, and baserunning. Righthander [b:22848266e6]Bob Forsch[/b:22848266e6] (left) was in the driver's seat for 7.2 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 walk and no runs, as [url=http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/1986/scores/boxscore.php?id=2114][b:22848266e6]St. Louis shut out Houston, 6-0[/b:22848266e6][/url], to even the NLCS at 1 game apiece. Leadoff hitter and Gold Glove shortstop [b:22848266e6]Ozzie Smith[/b:22848266e6] reached base in all 5 of his plate appearances, going 1-for-1 with 4 walks, swiping 2 bases, and scoring twice.

After a travel day, the series shifts to St. Louis for 3 straight games, starting with Game 3, where Nolan Ryan is slated to square off against John Tudor.

[b:22848266e6]ALCS resumes Friday:[/b:22848266e6] The Angels look to bounce back at home after dropping the first 2 games of the series to the Yankees in the Bronx - the likely pitching matchup will be New York's prized midseason acquisition Andy McGaffigan (overall 11-6, 2.85) vs. the surprising John Candelaria (18-3, 2.64).

[i:22848266e6]photo: SN Archives[/i:22848266e6]