Cardinals top Mets, grab series lead

ST. LOUIS – A big swing by Albert Pujols and another playoff gem from a rejuvenated Jeff Weaver put the St. Louis Cardinals on the cusp of the World Series.

Pujols’ homer helped the Cardinals get to Tom Glavine at last, and Weaver shut down the New York Mets for a 4-2 victory Tuesday night and a 3-2 lead in the N.L. Championship Series.

“The biggest key to our win was the way he pitched,” St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. “The more you think about what he did, the more impressive he was.”

Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter can close it out tonight in Game 6 at Shea Stadium, which would give St. Louis its second pennant in three years and a date with the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. Rookie right-hander John Maine is on the mound for the Mets, who hope to force a Game 7 at home.

The Cardinals got timely hits from Preston Wilson and Ronnie Belliard, and an insurance homer by pinch-hitter Chris Duncan. With the red-clad crowd of 46,496 twirling white towels, St. Louis’ young bullpen held on in the late innings after getting roughed up during New York’s 12-5 victory in Game 4.

“We didn’t have too many opportunities,” Mets manager Willie Randolph said. “They did pitch well. The bullpen did a great job.”

The second rainout of the series Monday night gave Glavine and Weaver a chance to pitch on regular rest instead of only a three-day break. Now, for the second time in the series, the clubs will travel without a day off.

Making his 35th postseason start, the most in major league history, Glavine got only 12 outs. Weaver, on the other hand, earned his second playoff win.

“I think one advantage of playing a team in a long series like this is getting the opportunity to pitch twice,” Weaver said. “I knew what they had hit before, and more than anything I just tried to get ahead of ‘em.”

Pujols’ homer put St. Louis on the scoreboard and snapped Glavine’s 22-inning scoreless streak that dated to his final regular-season start at Washington.

“He doesn’t give in too much,” said Pujols, who insisted last week that Glavine wasn’t very good during Game 1. “I’m just glad it went out of the park.”

The 40-year-old Glavine threw four-hit ball for seven sharp innings in Game 1, beating Weaver 2-0 on Carlos Beltran’s two-run homer.

But Weaver got the best of this matchup. Cast off by the Los Angeles Angels this summer to make roster room for his little brother, Jered, the St. Louis right-hander kept Beltran and Carlos Delgado in check, yielding only two runs and six hits in six strong innings.

“I don’t even remember the first half of the season,” Weaver said. “I just continued to believe in myself that things would turn around.”

The Mets put runners at second and third with one out in the eighth, but Randy Flores retired Shawn Green on a shallow fly and rookie Adam Wainwright struck out Jose Valentin looking to preserve a two-run lead. Wainwright struck out Jose Reyes to end the game.

Cardinals 4, Mets 2

a-homered for Weaver in the 6th. b-struck out for Feliciano in the 7th. c-grounded out for Mota in the 9th. LOB—New York 8, St. Louis 10. 2B—Wright (1), ShGreen (1), Valentin (2), Chavez (2), PrWilson (1). 3B—Miles (1). HR—Duncan (1), off Feliciano; Pujols (1), off TGlavine. RBIs—Valentin 2 (5), PrWilson (1), Pujols (1), Belliard (1), Duncan (1). SB—Eckstein (2). CS—Rolen (1). RLISP—New York 5 (Wright, Valentin 2, TGlavine 2); St. Louis 7 (PrWilson, JEncarnacion, Belliard 3, JfWeaver 2). RMU—Chavez. DP—New York 1 (Lo Duca and Valentin).

TGlavine pitched to 3 batters in the 5th. IR-S—Bradford 2-0, Feliciano 3-0, Wainwright 2-0, Flores 2-0. IBB—off RoHernandez (Edmonds) 1, off TGlavine (Pujols) 1. WP—RoHernandez. T—3:26. A—46,496 (43,975).