St. Louis Cardinals Catch Atlanta Braves, on Precipice of Historic Comeback

When the Houston Astros took a five-run lead in the third inning, it looked hopeless for the Cardinals. Hopeless is a word they've gotten accustomed to dealing with though. As they've been doing all season long, the Cardinals dug down and created their own hope once again.

They came back in the top of the fourth. David Freese started the inning off with a walk. Albert Pujols struck out. Lance Berkman singled. Alan Craig walked, and the bases were loaded with one out.

That's when it started to look like they could do it. Yadier Molina, who hit the home run that lofted the Cardinals into their last World Series with a home run, singled, and Freese scored the first run for the Cards.

Then Skip Schumaker, doubled deep to left center and cleared the bases. Suddenly, the Cardinals found themselves only one run behind and had Schumaker on second. 

The Astros made a pitching change, and the Cardinals Nick Punto singled. Schumaker advanced to third. The Birds had runners at the corner and one out. Corey Patterson walked the bases full.

Then John Jay sacrificed home with the tying run. Freese, up for the second time in the inning, struck out to end it.

Then the Astros pulled ahead again in the bottom of the fifth.

No problem. In the top of the seventh, the Cards ravaged the Astros again. And again, the inning started off with Freese, who flied out. Pujols lined out. Then, with two outs in the inning, the Cards went nuts. Berkman singled. Allen Craig doubled, and Berkman tied up the game.

Then, after a Molina walk, Allen Craig hit a double that might have put the Cardinals into the postseason. 

After that, the top just got blown off the game. Ryan "The Riot" Theriot gave the Birds some cushion with a double that scored Craig and Molina. Then Punto doubled home Craig. 

Just for good measure, Craig homered in the eighth, scoring Pujols and Berkman. Then Punto homered in the ninth. The Birds took a 13-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth. 

With this version of the Cardinals, it's never been truer that it "ain''t over til it's over," so when the Astros started off the bottom of the ninth with a single by Angel Sanchez, it was a bit of an eyebrow raiser. The last huge lead the Cards took into the ninth became a loss. 

Then JB Shuck lined out. Jose Altuve singled, and suddenly, the 'Stros were on first and second with just one out. Visions of 26 blown saves on the season went dancing through every Cardinal fans head. Then Edwin Jackson secured the last two outs, the game was over and the Cardinals were tied. 

Suddenly, the Cardinals were tied with the Braves for the Wild Card spot. A team who was 10 games out of the playoffs at the end of August was suddenly tied for the spot with the Braves. 

Tomorrow, the Braves will face the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Cardinals will face the Astros. If either team wins and the other loses, they clinch the playoff spot. If they both win or both lose, the Cardinals will host a one-game playoff on Thursday. They get to host the game as they have won the season series with the Braves. 

The comeback is one of the largest in major league history. The best the Cardinals have ever done is the 1934 team, a.k.a. the "Gashouse Gang" who trailed by 7.5 games on September 5th, and won the World Series. 

This version was 8.5 games out on the same date. 

The 2007 Colorado Rockies trailed by five games on September 1st, and won a playoff spot. If the Cardinals win the Wild Card, it would be the largest September deficit to ever win a playoff spot.