2011 MLB Playoffs: Chris Carpenter out Pitches Roy Halladay in Pitchers Duel

It was supposed to be a pitchers' duel, and it was. Two Cy Young award winners faced off to decide a series for just the third time in MLB history. It was not a disappointment as the St. Louis Cardinals behind Chris Carpenter upset the leader of the "Dream Rotation," Roy Halladay 1-0. 

The only hitter to cross the plate in the game was the first hitter of the game, Rafael Furcal. Furcal opened the game with a triple. Then Skip Schumaker followed that up with a double.  

Carpenter only allowed four Philadelphia hitters to reach base, and the last got there on a strikeout pitch that Cardinals catcher, Yadier Mollina wasn't able to field cleanly. 

There were some tense moments for the Cardinals, none more so than the bottom of the fourth, when Raul Ibanez hammered a ball to deep center that ended up being nothing more than an out to end the inning. 

In the top of the eighth, the Cardinals looked like they could break it open when Carpenter singled to start the inning. Then, trying to bunt over Carpenter to second, but Carlos Ruiz made a throwing error which had both Carpenter and Furcal on base.  Halladay then intentionally walked Albert Pujols. 

After that, Halladay struck out Lance Berkman and then Matt Holliday flew out to center. The Philadelphia fans were delighted, and obviously expectant of the hitters to follow up at the bottom of the inning to score the tying or even go-ahead runs.

Instead, no one hit a ball out of the infield as Carpenter just pitched masterfully. No one hit the ball out of the infield for the rest of the game. 

The game ended in an odd scene as Ryan Howard grounded out to first and never reached base as he collapsed with an as yet, undisclosed injury. The injured and weeping Howard made an odd background to the celebrating Cardinals. 

The Red Birds will be facing their division rival, the Milwaukee Brewers. The last time the Brewers made it this deep into the postseason was 1982, when the Cardinals defeated them in the World Series. 

Game 1 will be on on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 EST. As of now, the starting pitchers are not released. The remarkable Cardinals, who were 10.5 games out of the playoffs near the end of August will see if they can continue their unlikely success then.