Could this be a CLINCH live blog??

Let me preface my liveblog by giving you the best highlights of the Atlanta-Houston game so far:

Houston had runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out when Braves RF Francoeur made a diving catch and popped up to throw Aubrey Huff out at home.  It was a GREAT play.  He followed that up in the next half inning by going yard.  2-0 Braves!  Then in this last inning, the Astros loaded the bases, but Smoltz gets Huff to fly out (to Francoeur) to end the inning.  I think Smoltz and Francoeur are my new favorite players.  I feel a clinch coming for the Redbirds!  Oh, now it's 3-0 Braves.

A live blog coming your way soon.....

Alright, the Cardinals take the field and Reyes prepares to make the first pitch.  Yes, the Cardinals are sitting in a great position with the Astros currently losing, but they still need to win.  They want to win.  The champagne tastes much better when you just won the game than if you lost it.

Top of 1st

8:20- First pitch....strike one.

8:22- It looked like Reyes got Gwynn swinging on strike 3, but the ump said he didn't go around.  Instead he drops in a blooper for a hit.

8:24- Reyes makes Tony Graffinio look pretty bad on a swinging strike and then nails him looking for strike 3.  1 out.

8:25- On ball 1 to Prince Fielder, Gwynn steals a base off of Molina, as Yadi bobbles it taking it out of his glove.

8:27- After getting behind Fielder 2-1, Reyes gives up a homer and Fielder has as many homers this season as his number with #28. 2-0 Brewers.

8:28- Reyes quickly gets Bill Hall 0-2 before throwing a great change up on pitch number 4 to strike him out.  2 away.

8:30- Ugh.  Now Geoff Jenkins takes the kid deep.  3-0 Brewers.  How about out #3 Anthony?

8:31- Well, it won't be Corey Hart.  He hit a gapper for a triple and pitching coach Duncan hurries out to the mound to talk to young Reyes.

8:33- David Bell drops in a bloop hit and that's all for Reyes.  LaRussa heads out to the mound to take the ball after Reyes gives up 4 runs in only 2/3 of an inning.  Ouch.

8:35- Brad Thompson takes over the pitching duties as the Brewers send their 8th man to the plate this inning.

8:36- And that 8th man, Mike Rivera grounds out into a fielder's choice.  The inning is FINALLY over.

Bottom of 1st

It's tough being down before you ever step up to the plate, especially four runs, but the Redbirds are about to do just that.

8:38- It's Carlos Villanueva on the hill today for the Brew Crew.  Miles welcomes him by lining the ball of his pitching hand.  3B Bell picks up the ball and fires Miles out at first.

8:41- After a plethera of Brewers staff looks at Villanueva's hand, he decides he's fine and promptly gets Chris Duncan 0-2.

8:43- Duncan fights back to make it 2-2 and then fouls off three straight pitches before striking out for out #2.

8:45- Pujols watches four pitches for a count of 3-1 before barely getting thrown out at first on a ground ball after Fielder contorted himself to make the catch.

(Houston update: Atlanta still leads 3-0 in the top of the 6th after getting the 'Stros got out of a bases loaded jam in the 5th.)

Top of 2nd

8:47- Thompson strikes out the first batter he sees in the 2nd, pitcher Villanueva

8:48- Thompson makes quick work of the next two Brewers batters by getting both to ground out to Ronnie Belliard at 2nd by throwing only 3 pitches.

Bottom of 2nd

8:51- Preston Wilson is up, batting cleanup again tonight.  He shows bunt and takes for strike 1.

8:52- Wilson SHARPLY lines a single to LF Corey Hart, but it bounces off his glove and Preston ends up at 2nd on the error.  Rally time boys!

8:53- Villanueva walks Rolen on five pitches.

(Houston update: They have runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs.  Let's go Smoltzie!)

8:55- Juan Encarnacion hits a ball barely fair to 3B Hall.  He throws a ball in the dirt to 2B and they barely get Rolen out on the fielder's choice.

8:56- Good news and bad news.  With 1st and 3rd and only 1 out, Ronnie Belliard lines out to 2nd.  Good news?  Look below.

(Houston update: Smoltz strikes out Orlando Palmerio to end the inning.)

8:58- Yadi Molina hits a dribbler to Bell for the final out of the inning.

Top of 3rd

9:01- Thompson keeps Fielder in the park this at-bat and he flies out to CF.

9:02- Bill Hall strikes out on 3 straight pitches.  Looks like Thompson on his A-game tonight.

9:04- Thompson falls behind Geoff Jenkins 2-0, battles with him to make it full and finally walks him.

9:05- Hart hits a dribbler to the SS and Miles make a good play to nail him at 1st by a step.  Inning over.

Bottom of 3rd

(Houston update: This is where it gets scary.  Smoltz leaves the game at 3-0 and the Braves bring in pitcher Macay McBride.  It's 1st and 3rd and Berkman's up.  Yikes.)

9:07- Vizcaino pinch hits for Thompson for out number one.

9:09- Miles hits a ball to center and Gwynn runs a mile to make a great catch.

9:10- Duncan strikes out for the 2nd time today.

(Houston update: Berkman hit an RBI single.  3-1 Braves, but Houston has runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs.  Never mind.  McBride just struck out Luke Scott for the first out of the inning.)

Top of 4th

9:12- Jorge Sosa, ironically acquired from the very Braves we are rooting for comes in to take the mound.

9:13- Bell hits a chopper to the mound and Sosa throws him out at 1st.

9:14- After Thompson did a tremendous job in his relief appearance, Sosa promptly gives up a home run to Rivera that is just over the fence and just fair in the corner.  This guy has done nothing since being a Redbird and I hope he doesn't pitch in the postseason.  5-0 Brew Crew.

9:16- Count goes full to fellow pitcher Villanueva.  He looks at strike number 3 right down the middle. 2 outs.

9:18- Easy pop fly to Encarnacion ends the inning.

(Houston update: Tyler Yates comes in to end the inning for Atlanta and Houston strands two.  Braves still lead 3-1 going into the bottom of the 7th.)

Bottom of 4th

9:20- Albert Pujols does his best attempt to start a rally by hitting a flare out to right.

(Houston update: I can see the Braves fans tomahawk chopping down in Atlanta.  Chop away!  I used to hate this cheer and now it's music to my ears. :)  )

9:22- Wilson hits into a DP and kills attempted rally.  Ugh again.

9:23- Rolen works the count to 2-2.

(Houston update: The Braves go 1-2-3 and now it's the top of the 8th.  It's far from over.  The 'Stros have comeback a lot lately.  Still, we are only 6 Astro outs away from the Cardinals being NL Champs.)

9:24- Rolen takes strike 3 to end the inning.

Top of 5th

9:27- Sosa comes back out for the Redbirds to face Tony Graffanino and falls behind 2-1.

9:28- Rolen gobbles up a slow roller to nail Graffanino at 1st.  One down.

9:29- Fielder drops a hit into CF to bring up Bill Hall.

9:30- Hall lifts the ball to center and there's a near collision.  Luckily, Encarnacion catches the ball and doesn't get nailed by Duncan in the process.

(Houston update: Houston doesn't score in the 8th and they are down to the final 3 outs as the Braves head to the plate in the bottom of the inning.)

9:32- Geoff Jenkins nearly get plucked by Sosa by avoids it to make it a 1-1 count.

9:35- Jenkins works the count full before lining the ball up the middle.  1st and 2nd Brewers.

9:36- Hart strides to the plate and looks at strike one.

9:37- Hart looks at strike 2 before Yadi blocks a ball in the dirt to hold the runners.

(Houston update: Bob Wickman is pitching the 9th for Atlanta and starts out with a strike.  Looking good Bob.  3 outs to go.)

9:39- Hart strikes out in a 7 pitch at-bat.

Bottom of 5th

(Houston update: Taveras strikes out swinging.  2 outs to go!!!  Now, a grounder to  Renteria.  1 out!!!)

9:41- Encarnacion flies out.

(Houston update: You don't see this very often.  As a Cardinal gets an out, cheers literally ERUPT in the stands as the Cardinal fans see the final score and then begin the tomahawk chop.  Ladies and gentlemen, the Cardinals are your 2006 NL Central Division Champs!!!!!  It's October, baby!!)

9:45- Cardinals go 1-2-3 and I don't have to type so fast now that I'm not watching 2 games at once.  Leaves me more time to respond to comments.  So.....Cardinal fans where are you at???  If you stop by, comment and tell me what it feels like now that we're in the playoffs.

Top of 6th

9:46- Sosa's on the mound for another inning and gets Bell to ground out for the first out.

9:49- Rivera works the count full and Molina fights the sun to get the 2nd out on a foul popout.

9:50- Villanueva strikes out for the third time today, but I bet he doesn't care.  He's pitching a 2 hitter.

Bottom of 6th

9:52- Schumaker pinch hits for Sosa and lines out to RF, as Jenkins make a running  catch.

9:53- Miles grounds out for the 2nd out of the inning.

9:54- Dunc strikes out for the THIRD time today.

Top of 7th

9:58- Chris Narveson comes in to pitch and strikes out the first batter he sees, Gwynn.

10:01- Duncan reels in a fly ball from the bat of Graffanino

10:02- Narvenson gets 'em 1-2-3 as Prince Fielder grounds out to Prince Albert at first.

Bottom of 7th

10:03- Pujols almost squeaks a grounder through the infield, but Bell lays out to make the play and throw him out at first.

10:05- Bell gets a workout as Wilson also grounds out to him.

10:06- Scott Spiezio, red goatee and all, pinch hits for Rolen and works the count to 2-2.

10:07- Inside.  Ball three.  Spiezio rips one foul and almost has another triple.  Instead, he'll go back and hit as the count stays full.

10:08- Spiezio pops out on the infield.  Out 3.  Still 5-0 Brewers.

Top of 8th

10:11- A guy that's pitched in my hometown, Josh Kinney, comes in to pitch, as does Mike Rose, replacing Yadi Molina, as does John Nelson, replacing Miles at short.

10:13- Nelson gets his first play as Hall grounds out to him.

10:14- Jenkins hits the ball up the middle as it's just out of reach of a couple Cardinals and he's aboard with one out.

10:15- I was wrong.  I just saw Miles running after a foul ball.  Nelson did replace Miles at short, but he's not out.  He went on to replace Belliard at 2nd.  Belliard's out of the game.  And Kinney strikes out Hart.

10:17- Kinney looks sharp as he strikes out Hart to end the inning.

Bottom of 8th - Come on Redbirds.  It'd be really nice to win this game.

10:19- Encarnacion drives the ball to deep left field, but it drops inches from the wall into Corey Hart's glove.

10:21- John Nelson lines out for the 2nd out.

10:23- Mike Rose gets just the third hit of this game, but it's in vain as Rodriguez flies out to end the inning.

Top of 9th

10:24- Braden Looper replaces Kinney to pitch the 9th.

10:26- Rivera sends the first pitch he sees to center field for a single.

10:28- Villanueva strikes out for 4th time, competing with Dunc for the most K's today.  Quick shot of setting up the bubbly.  It's almost time to celebrate.

10:29- Gwynn grounds into a fielder's choice, as the Cardinals middle infield isn't able to get the DP.

10:30- Graffanino can't pull the trigger quick enough and he strikes out to send St. Louis to the bottom of the 9th.

Bottom of 9th

10:33- Miles flies out for the first out.

10:34- After 3 K's, Duncan does something different.  He goes deep and finally gives the Redbird crowd something to cheer about.  There goes Villanueva's shutout.

10:35- Pujols wants in on the action and makes it back to back for his 49th long ball of the year.  Man, 50 would have been so sweet this year.

10:39- Apparently, Pujols' drive went longer than Dunc's.  Can Preston follow suit?  He'll face new pitcher Francisco Cordero.

10:40- He cannot.  He strikes out for the second out.  And it's up to Scott Speizio, the hero from yesterday's game.

10:41- Nobody wants to be the last out.  Spiezio drives the ball deep for #13 on the year.  5-3 Brewers.  At least if they lose, they'll feel like they're celebrating for a reason.

10:42- 2-2 count on Encarnacion and he strikes out swinging......and the Cardinals are the champs.  Lol.  Strange indeed.  Game over.

But,  I don't care HOW they did it.  Just that they did it.  The Cardinals are your 2006 NL Central Champs.  We're going to the postseason and that's all that matters.  After 162 games, we came out on top!

Now let's go get the Padres!......or the Dodgers???  We'll know shortly.

Fan of a celebrating team that's going to October,

Tiffany