Pujols settles Game 5 - Back to Busch

This was no fizzy lifting drink home run to that rinky-dink Lemonade Park left field. This was a mammoth "Who's Your Daddy!" two outs, two on, top of the 9th and trailing by two runs, 412-ft. monster that would've kept on going if the roof had been open.

It was Albert Pujols doing what Albert has done in his past four seasons: come through with the clutch hit, proving for 2005 that his story is still a Cinderella story, and that he eventually will join the pantheon of baseball greats of all time.

It wasn't an easy win. It's never easy in Houston, but it's back to the Arch and to a chance for a storybook games 6 and 7. Hope springs anew. We believe, Lord, we believe!

(As an aside, a visiting priest from Kentucky, Father David Wilton told us specifically on Sunday afternoon to remember what an old St. Louis boy once declared: "It ain't over 'til it's over." That was Yogi Berra, and of course, he played for that Other storybook team, but that's close enough. Father David, thanks for putting in a good word for the boys with the birds on the bat.)

Pujols didn't do it alone. It took a team effort, and great work was turned in by Chris Carpenter, Jason Isringhausen, David Eckstein, Jim Edmonds, Hector Luna, Reggie Sanders. Oh, and Yaddier Molina. Especially Yadi! He doesn't put the tag on at the plate earlier in the game, it doesn't happen.

Yeah, we realize we're way over into baseball geeky territory with this post, but have a heart. We were certain that the long, cold-hearted off-season would begin tonight. We have at the least a two day reprieve!

Maybe the TV brass will just have to accept a different script from the one they wanted.

Go Cards!