Cards-Dodgers Game 2 Live Blog

And we're back! The Cardinals and Dodgers are about to kick off game No. 2 of their NLDS, and I'll be here throughout the game once again. Please leave your thoughts and comments below, and I'll work some/most of them into the blog.

According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, here's what the Cards' lineup is going to look like:

Lugo, 2B

Ryan, SS

Pujols, 1B

Holliday, LF

Ludwick, RF

Molina, C

DeRosa, 3B

Rasmus, CF

Wainwright, P

The thing that sticks out is no Skip Schumaker against lefthander Clayton Kershaw. Like the lineup?

drawmules says: "I don't like Molina batting 6th. I didn't like it last night and I don't like it tonight."

First Inning

5:07 -- First pitch coming but on a side note I purchased postseason.tv and now have the ability to watch four different camera angles online to "supplement" the coverage on TBS. I plan on keeping one screen on the Cardinals' dugout. I'll let you know if I see anything cool or anyone picking their nose or something...

5:14 -- OK, we're off to a slow start. The Cardinals and me. I was busy showing off my new camera angles as the Cardinals were retired in order.

5:17 -- Wainwright on the mound. It would be really nice to keep Furcal off the bases.

5:19 -- How many foul balls is that?

5:20 -- Mission accomplished. One out.

5:21 -- How awesome would it have been if Kemp had struck out in the first inning last night? That shall be the only time I regretfully mention last night's game. I'm so over it.

buck says: "I don't worry to much about Wainwright's number of pitchs. He is work horse."

I don't worry too much about Wainwright, period, which is nice.

5:23 -- A 1-2-3 inning for Wainwright. Did the Cardinals have any of those last night?

Second Inning

5:26 -- "Why couldn't he have done that last night?" That is the question Jeff Breer is asking in the newsroom as Matt Holliday gives the Cards at 1-0 lead with a solo homer to lead off the inning. I cannot comment further. I've made my promises. :)

buck says: "There is a start"

Indeed.

5:29 -- Now Ludwick singles. I still haven't broken out the Molina jersey, but I'm pulling for Yadi here nonetheless.

5:31 -- I'll take it.

One downside to postseason.tv is that the camera guys sometimes go a little crazy zooming in and out and moving the camera around since they're only being used for some shots on TV. Here's to motion sickness...

5:34 -- DeRosa down on strikes. Rasmus is up and getting his second start in a row here in the postseason. Anyone surprised? I guess I'm not considering the other options. Plus I like Rasmus starting, so that might have something to do with it.

5:36 -- Naturally Rasmus hits into a double play to end the inning. Sorry Colby.

5:40 -- The Dodgers are waiting for Manny "to explode?" Probably not the best choice of words there, Dick.

5:42 -- No explosion this time. Manny is retired.

5:44 -- Wainwright looking good through two. I feel much better than I did at this time in game one.

I just got an ultra-close-up of Brendan Ryan's mustache on my computer feed between innings. There is no way around this truth, Brendan. The mustache is NOT a good look. Not at all.

Third Inning

5:49 -- I'm predicting a Wainwright hit.

5:50 -- No I'm not. Still a good at-bat, though.

5:51 -- What I meant to predict was a Julio Lugo double. Here comes Ryan...and his mustache...

5:54 -- They're walking Albert. Again.

5:55 -- I. hate. this.

buck says: "Did Holiday not homer his last AB?"

I know, right. What would it take for them to pitch to him? Aside from the bases being loaded or empty?

If the Dodgers were ahead by one in the ninth and Albert was up with the bases empty, would they walk him? :)

5:55 -- Holliday grounds out to end the inning. Haven't made them pay yet.

6:00 -- Ludwick with the nice grab. Did we get a little fist pump from Wainwright? I wasn't looking at the screen.

6:02 -- On to the fourth. It's early enough that I can that Wainwright hasn't given up a hit, right?

Fourth Inning

6:03 -- LaRussa is out of the dugout talking amicably to the home plate umpire between innings about something. I'm not sure who initiated the conversation, but the ump was doing most of the talking. I don't know if this is typical since I don't usually get to see what happens between innings. No conversation with Torre for the ump.

6:07 -- Are you guys fans of the in-game interview?

buck says: "What a comment by Torre. It took a rocket scientist to figure that out."

I'm assuming he's talking about Torre saying that Wainwright looks sharper than Carpenter did. You think, Joe?

6:09 -- The was a quick top half for the Cards. I don't think we'll be seeing the longest game in LDS history this evening. Thank goodness. I have a football game to watch at 8: http://semoball.com/forums/mizzou/thread/466

6:14 -- Two-out homer by Andre Ethier ties the game. Dave Duncan looks like he wants to throw up in the Cards dugout. Not sure why, but he seemed pretty disgusted in the dugout for a few moments. I'm not saying he was mad at Wainwright or anything, but something about that whole scenario displeased him greatly.

6:16 -- The score's 1-1 headed to the fifth. Now would be a good time for the offense to contribute something. Just saying.

Fifth Inning

6:22 -- Rasmus with the leadoff single and Wainwright is showing bunt.

drawmules says: "Wainwright has to bunt. Maybe he can do this better than Carpenter."

And he could. Sacrifice good. Back to Julio Lugo at the top of the order.

6:25 -- That wasn't the prettiest swing I've ever seen. (from Lugo)

6:27 -- Well, at least Pujols will get to swing next inning. I'm testing out the power of positive thinking.

buck says: "What's the odd's they walk Pujols leading off the next inning?"

Haha. We all think alike.

6:32 -- Two outs away from Pujols. (Too much?)

6:33 -- Andre Ethier needs a haircut as bad as Brendan Ryan needs a shave, IMO.

6:34 -- Pujols gets to swing. Woo!

Sixth Inning

6:39 -- Albert gets a hit! I'm way too excited, but I don't care.

buck says: "Ryan is going for the Rollie Fingers look."

That's what scares me.

6:41 -- I wonder at what point I'll see Holliday's No. 15 and not think about Jim Edmonds. I don't think it will be soon. (That's not a veiled slight direct at Holliday. I just always think of Edmonds when I get a good look at the No. 15.)

I saw a No. 15 Cards shirt at Wal-Mart recently and said "Edmonds' jerseys?!?!?!" to the person I was with before realizing I was a fool after a few seconds.

6:44 -- After his line out, Ludwick is greeted in the dugout by a fist pound and slap on the rear from Colby Rasmus. Any males care to try to explain the butt slapping that goes on in men's athletics? I doubt I'll understand, to be honest.

6:46 -- Yadi's out as well. Moving along.

drawmules says: "I really don't like Molina batting 6th."

Noted.

6:54 -- Is it just me or does it seem like Furcal has been annoying me on opposing team since the mid 80's.

6:55 -- It's probably just me.

6:56 -- OK, NOW would be a good time for the offense to get going.

Seventh Inning

6:59 -- OK, buck. These commercial break are loonnggg.

7:01 -- Rasmus's double scores DeRosa, but he is thrown out at third. They just showed LaRussa's reaction, but they cut off the best part. He ended up with his back flat up against the wall down the tunnel.

buck says: "You think Pujols was giving Rasmus some base running advice?"

Pujols would have made it. Maybe. But he definitely would have tried, you're right.

7:05 -- Kershaw is done after Lugo's single.

7:06 -- Have I mentioned that I'm not a fan of Brendan Ryan's mustache? Too many times? OK, then.

7:07 -- Hey! Albert will get to swing again.

7:12 -- That Hey! Albert... was unintentional. I'm just that good.

7:13 -- How reassuring is it to know that Kyle Lohse is getting warmed up?

7:14 -- Please be OK, Yadi. Please.

7:15 -- Yadi gave a wink and a nod toward one of the cameras to let me know he's OK. I thought that was nice of him. (/me pretending to know Yadi.)

buck says: "Waino better be in bad trouble for somebody else to come in this game!!!!!!!!!!"

7:19 -- I'm pretty certain it would be impossible for me to get used to watching that kind of a curve. So pretty. Big out, two down.

7:21 -- Adam Wainwright is through seven innings. Yawn.

Eighth Inning

7:23 -- Random observation: The Cardinals' bat boy looks stressed out.

7:24 -- Obvious observation: Albert is up.

7:25 -- And Albert pops up. All I can say is that someone better eliminate the Cardinals before he starts making the people pay.

7:28 -- Broxton through the inning without drama. Wainwright is headed back to the mound.

7:32 -- John Smoltz getting loose!

7:33 -- Not sure that post deserved an exclamation point, but I find the idea of him closing out the game interesting. I did hear that right, didn't I? Smolz is warming up?

7:35 -- Joe Pettini is discussing something with both LaRussa and Duncan, for what it's worth. I'm guessing it was defensive alignment because all three of them started directing fielders.

Nighthawk2005 says: "This could be trouble."

Let's hope not.

7:38 -- Furcal. Again.

7:39 -- Do you think the first-base ump stopped breathing for a second when Albert turned toward him?

7:40 -- Seems like an appropriate time for Wainwright's first walk of the game.

7:41 -- I am officially playoff-level nervous right now.

7:42 -- Dick Stockton thinks Wainwright needs to go after Matt Kemp here. Good thinking.

7:43 -- (Still exhaling.)

Ninth Inning

7:47 -- Yadi up and Yadi down.

7:49 -- DeRosa gets another hit to bring up Rasmus again. I wouldn't mind another run here, Colby.

drawmules says: "LaRussa just gave Wainwright a hug. Does that mean he is done?"

I missed that somehow. I would guess so...

7:51 -- Glaus pinch hits for Wainwright and flies out to the warning track.

7:53 -- Trever Miller into the game for St. Louis.

7:56 -- Tony LaRussa can't stand still, and I can't stop tapping my fingernails on my desk. Are you with me?!?!

7:57 -- Pop up to Lugo. One down.

buck says: "When are we gonna see Manny being Manny?"

Hopefully next season. Or never. I like those options.

7:58 -- Here comes Ryan Franklin.

8:01 -- Franklin gets Manny to fly out to Rasmus in center. One more out and then back to St. Louis.

buck says: "Hopefully he has 2 more games to do something stupid."

I see what you're saying. I misunderstood your point. Manny doing something stupid would be fine with me.

8:04 -- Someone tell me that didn't just happen.

8:05 -- No one said it was going to be easy.

8:06 -- Thank you, first base umpire?!?!?

8:07 -- Can't think of anything to type. Too nervous...

8:08 -- Why wouldn't there be a full count?

8:10 -- Interestingly, Manny is the only person visibly cheering the the Dodger dugout. A lot of clapping and fist pumping coming from him.

8:11 -- Head on desk.

8:15 -- I believe in you, Ryan Franklin.

8:16 -- Nevermind.

8:17 -- Switching to Mizzou game to try to block out the misery.

3-2 Dodgers