St. Louis – Come next week, the San Diego Padres are hoping they can party like it’s 1984.
That year, they found themselves down 2-0 to the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series, which at that time was a best-of-five series. The Padres came back to win three straight and advance to their first World Series.
Now, with his team down 2-0 to the Cardinals, manager Bruce Bochy said they must call on the spirit of ’84.
“I think we have to,” he said. “It’s not over. You have to win three games. We’re going home, we’re getting close. We just have to start getting the big hit we’ve been looking for.”
The Padres loaded the bases twice Thursday and scored only one run.
Not ready for prime time
Word arrived Thursday that the first pitch for Saturday’s Game 3 in San Diego is set for 8 p.m. PDT. That translates to a 10 p.m. start in St. Louis.
“I guess maybe the network (ESPN is broadcasting the game) doesn’t figure the nation at large thinks much of the Cardinals-Padres series,” said Cardinals fan Rick Stokes. “It’s frustrating, but we’ll try to watch. My 11-year-old son (Will) caught Cardinals fever last year and he’ll want to stay up and watch, but I don’t know if he’ll make it through. Heck, I don’t know if I’ll be able to stay up until 1 in the morning.”
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has no problem with the late start. Asked if he thought the late game was a disservice to St. Louis-area fans, he said: “Nah, our fans are going to be there if we play at midnight or 1 a.m. They’re going to watch it. I mean, Sunday is a day off.”
La Russa kidded that his biggest concern would be his players partying too much tonight, on their off night, in San Diego’s Gas Lamp District.
Mulder’s OK
In the second inning, Cardinals starter Mark Mulder was hit by a scorching line drive off the bat of Joe Randa.
Mulder stayed in the game and picked up the third postseason victory of his career. After the game he said he’ll have a big bruise on his arm, but said it was not a serious injury. According to Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein, Mulder actually pitched better after getting drilled.
“It calmed him down,” Eckstein said. “I think his sinker started working a lot better.”
Ex-Rockies showdown
Two former Rockies – Cardinals outfielder Larry Walker and Padres pitcher Pedro Astacio – had a bases-loaded showdown in the third inning.
Astacio won the battle, striking out Walker. He also struck out the next batter, slugger Reggie Sanders, to escape the jam with minimal damage.
