Talk » Lions where hell instead back up Travis Lulay on his fifth C

ST. LOUIS -- With the red-clad crowd roaring more loudly with every pitch, Matt Carpenter became more determined -- to get a hit and help lead the St. Louis Cardinals back to the World Series. On Clayton Kershaws 11th offering, Carpenter lined a doubled to right field. It turned out to be the start of something really big. Carlos Beltran followed with another key hit in a four-run third inning that stunned the Dodgers ace, Michael Wacha was again magnificent on the mound and St. Louis advanced to its second World Series in three seasons by roughing up Los Angeles 9-0 in Game 6 of the NL championship series Friday night. "Im so happy right now. We did it as a team," Beltran said. "We fought hard, we worked hard all season long and thank God were here." Wacha, a rookie, was selected MVP of the series after throwing 13 2-3 scoreless innings and beating Kershaw twice in the NLCS. He pitched seven innings of two-hit ball Friday. "We want to see it a few more times, a couple at least," manager Mike Matheny said. With four runs in the third and five more in the fifth, the Cardinals quickly removed all the tension surrounding a team that squandered a 3-1 series lead in the NLCS last fall against San Francisco. Game 1 of the World Series is Wednesday at the winner of the ALCS between the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers. The Cardinals won their 19th NL pennant and will be trying for their third title since 2006, last winning in 2011. The glamorous Dodgers, with the second-highest payroll in baseball at $220 million, failed to reach the World Series for the first time since winning it all in 1988. "Going through spring, the long season, and then it just comes to a crash," Mattingly said. "So, its disappointing for all of us." After losing Game 5 in Los Angeles, the Cardinals turned to the 22-year-old Wacha once again. The right-hander was even better in outpitching Kershaw for the second time this series. It was 52 degrees at game time, a 23-degree drop from the Kershaw-Wacha matchup in Game 2 six days earlier, and Kershaw never warmed up. The lefty wasnt in the mood to talk about a season in which he had a majors-best 1.83 ERA, either. "If you dont win, whats the point?" Kershaw said. "It doesnt really matter. All this stuff." The top NL CY Young Award candidate was knocked out of a start for the first time this season without finishing the fifth. "I think the first time we faced him he was very tough," Beltran said. "This time he was a little off, but that doesnt mean anything." The 36-year-old Beltran had three hits and drove in two runs and made a spectacular catch in right field, helping him advance to the World Series for the first time in his 16-year career. Perhaps showing the Cardinals werent stressed by the possibility of a second straight post-season meltdown, Games 1 and 5 starter Joe Kelly had a post-national anthem staredown against Dodgers reserve outfielder Scott Van Slyke that was broken up by a fed-up home plate umpire Greg Gibson after several minutes. Kelly blinked first all in good fun but, when it counted, St. Louis wouldnt budge. "It was just something fun to start the game off," Van Slyke said. "I dont think Ive ever talked to Joe." Beltran followed Carpenters gritty doubled with an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly thought Carpenters grinding at-bat was the key. "From there," Mattingly said, "it just seemed like the flood gates opened ... Took a lot out of him." With two outs, Yadier Molina added an RBI single, Shane Robinson drove in two runs with a single in his first career post-season start after replacing slumping Jon Jay -- and advanced to second base on Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puigs first of two errors in the Cardinals big innings. The Cuban defector, who stood in the outfield during the eighth inning with his arms crossed, also struck out twice and was booed heartily. Hanley Ramirez, a last-minute addition to the Dodgers lineup, went 0 for 3 while playing with a broken rib. Kershaw needed 48 pitches to get out of the third, the most pitches of his career. He took exception with one pitch in particular, complaining to plate umpire Greg Gibson after Matt Adams full-count walk loaded the bases. The Dodgers bench also was vocal after the call on a pitch that may have been an inch or two low of the strike zone. The Cardinals knocked Kershaw out in the five-run fifth. Molina and David Freese led off with singles and Adams followed with a double to chase Kershaw. Wacha drove in a run with a fielders choice grounder and Carpenter had a sacrifice fly. Beltran capped the inning with an RBI single -- his 37th post-season RBI in 45 career games. Wacha has a minuscule 0.43 ERA in three post-season starts, one of the gems coming in Game 4 of the division series to keep the Cardinals alive. In his last regular season start and the NL Central up for grabs, he no-hit the Nationals for 8 2-3 innings. Beltran was the star of the Cardinals 3-2, 13-inning Game 1 victory, driving in all three runs plus making a perfect throw to keep it tied in extra innings. Kershaw was charged with seven runs on 10 hits in four-plus innings Friday. The lefty led the majors in ERA the last three years but has lost five straight starts against St. Louis. None of his outings this year were shorter than five innings and the most runs he allowed was five, on two occasions. The four-run fourth was his worst inning since July 24, 2012, at St. Louis, when Kershaw yielded eight runs in 5 2-3 innings -- six in the sixth. The Dodgers didnt have much of a chance again Wacha. Carl Crawford led off the game with an infield hit but was erased on Mark Elllis double-play ball. A.J. Ellis doubled to start the sixth and didnt advance. NOTES: Cardinals Hall of Fame SS Ozzie Smith threw the first pitch. ... Beltran has a .331 career post-season average. ... Ramirez batted .133 in the NLCS (2 for 15) with a pair of singles and one RBI. Darwin Barney Jersey . On Sunday, hell attempt to become the youngest driver to win a NASCAR Nationwide race on Iowas short track. The 20-year-old Blaney wont be the only kid pushing a podium finish. Ferguson Jenkins Jersey .com) - Delon Wright made all 12 of his free throws and finished with 21 points and six assists as No. http://www.officialrangersgearshop.com/ . - Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson sat on the scorers table at Oracle Arena on Wednesday morning. Ivan Rodriguez Jersey . TSN 1290s game day coverage begins on Monday, June 9 at 5:30pm ct as the Blue Bombers take on the Toronto Argonauts in pre-season action. Bombers game day broadcasts on TSN 1290 are hosted by Winnipeg Blue Bomber Hall of Famers Troy Westwood and new addition Chris Walby, alongside beat reporter Darrin Bauming, who delivers regular reports on the team for TSN 1290 all-season long. Alex Claudio Jersey . It was just time for him to make a big play. Nicolas Batum had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Wesley Matthews scored 18 points, and the Trail Blazers overcame poor-shooting nights by two of their best players in a 94-90 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday.Twelve years ago, it was Dan Crowley throwing passes to receivers Jimmy Oliver, Denis Montana, and Eddie Brown, and handing the ball off to Darren Davis. Thats a quarterback with just 253 passing attempts experience, and who would be out of the league in two years; three receivers with just one career 1,000-yard season combined; and a running back who after consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, failed to gain even 300 yards on the ground in either of his two years in Ottawa before leaving the league. Sorry for the painful trip down memory lane Ottawa football fans. Flash forward 12 years and it will be an awfully different scene, one with a lot more promise. Instead of a QB with just 1,696 passing yards at the time leading Ottawas new expansion team, theyll have a 14-year veteran in Henry Burris, a former Most Outstanding Player and Grey Cup champion, who has 51,526 career passing yards. 1,696 yards is a good weekend for the former Calgary Stampeder, Saskatchewan Roughrider, and Hamilton Tiger-Cat. The team has some promise in the receiving corps as well and an electrifying running back in Chevon Walker backed up by some solid CFL experience at fullback. The point is the Redblacks this season will look different than almost any expansion team before them, not just in the CFL or even football, but in all professional sports. Theyll look like a team that can compete. Its a nice change from the Renegades debut, whose problems ran far deeper than their game day roster week in and week out; having a team that can contend, or at least keep things close when the West Division heavy hitters come to town, is a boon to both the new ownership and CFL fans in Ottawa, who perhaps more than anyone deserve some good fortune on the gridiron. Using one part updated expansion draft rules that made more players available and one part a little good fortune in free agency, the Redblacks have built a deeper and more talented roster than your typical expansion team mish-mash. As mentioned earlier, Ottawa will be led by Burris, but theyll have some other veterans sprinkled into the roster to help the roster through their maiden voyage in the CFL. Guys like Walker at running back, receiver Paris Jackson, and offensive linemen John Gott, Joe Eppele, and JMichael Deane will help Burris run an effeective offence that could easily be closer to the middle of the pack than the basement come seasons end.dddddddddddd And on defence, former Most Outstanding Defensive Player Jovon Johnson should have enough gas left in the tank to lead the unit alongside veterans Keith Shologan, Anton McKenzie, TJ Hill, and Malik Jackson. This isnt to say the Redblacks are instant Grey Cup contenders, which in a nine-team league isnt entirely crazy. With the Winnipeg Blue Bombers heading West and the Argos, Ticats, and Alouettes all coming off at least decent regular seasons in 2013, the Redblacks will enter the year as favourites to finish in the East Division basement, but a 5-7 win season should keep the fans intrigued, and more importantly, excited about the future. Notes Expansion Draft - The Redblacks took their biggest step towards looking like a real team with the Expansion Draft in December. Highlights included picking two quarterbacks in Kevin Glenn and Thomas DeMarco, and other notable names such as Keith Shologan, Chevon Walker, Joe Eppele, and Eric Fraser. Glenn Saga - Kevin Glenn looked to be the Redblacks quarterback of the present until Henry Burris became available on the free market and Ottawa pounced. Not happy with the demotion, Glenn was eventually traded to the Lions where hell instead back up Travis Lulay on his fifth CFL team. Free Agency - Burris was the big coup in free agency but the team landed several other notable players including LB Malik Jackson from the Stampeders, defensive back Jovon Johnson from the Blue Bombers, and WR Kierrie Johnson from the Roughriders. CFL Draft - The Redblacks traded the first overall draft pick to the Stampeders for veteran offensive lineman John Gott, but got back into the first by trading Glenn to the Lions, and ended up with defensive back Antoine Pruneau. Other picks included WR Scott MacDonell in the second round, DL Nijel Romick in the third round, offensive linemen Aaron Wheaton in the fourth and Hugo Desmarais in the fifth, DL Stephon Miller in the sixth, and DL Vincent Desloges, LB Alexandre Bernard, and LS Kevin Malcolm in the seventh. Lansdowne Park - TD Place Stadium has been constructed where Frank Clair Stadium once stood and is expected to be fully ready for the teams Week 4 game against the Argonauts, the Redblacks home opener. ' ' '