As Sam Sees It

The decisive fifth game of the National League Divisional series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the St. Louis Cardinals was filled with great plays and superb pitching. The only glaring “error” was by an umpire and fortunately did not effect the outcome. Let’s start by paying tribute to the players who made this game so memorable.

Cardinals shortstop Edgar Renteria turned in a couple of outstanding plays, something he has done so often that it ceases to be a surprise. He has phenomenal range and a strong, accurate arm. The play he made to rob Mark Grace of a sure hit was spectacular even for Renteria.

Craig Counsell stole a hit from Albert Pujols sin the opening inning when he dove for a ground ball and flipped it to shortstop Tony Womack for a force out. That pair really gave the crowd a thrill in the fourth inning when first Womack, then Counsell, made leaping catches of scorching line drives that seemed sure hits when they left the bat.

Steve Finley and Jim Edmonds showed why they are ranked among the best center fielders in the game. Aside from the pitchers, Edmonds was the star of the series.

Curt Schilling gave up a run for the first time in the two games he worked in the 2-1 win when Pujols managed to reach the seats in short right field in the eighth inning. Matt Morris, who lost 1-0 to Schilling in the series opener, also allowed only one run in eighth innings and did not figure in the decision.

Reggie Sanders hit a long home run into the upper deck in left field to give Arizona the lead in the fourth. Pujols tied it in the eighth with his blast to right. Schilling shut down the Cardinals in the ninth.

Much maligned veteran Matt Williams led off the Diamondback ninth with a double into the right field corner which eventually resulted in the winning run. Womack missed a squeeze bunt attempt, but delivered the game-winning hit several pitches later. Womack had three hits and should have had a fourth. He was robbed of a hit by an umpire’s “error”.

With two outs and Damian Miller on second, Womack hit a sharp line drive that left fielder Pujols trapped, then threw home in time to cut Miller down at the plate. Umpire Mike Winters ruled that Pujols had caught the ball, robbing Womack of a hit. It was a call that made no difference, apparently, as things turned out. However, if Miller had beaten the throw to the plate or stopped at third, that call might have determined the outcome of the game. With six umpires working, there is just no excuse to miss that kind of call.

If there is a MVP award for this series, the winner has to be Schilling. He proved once and for all that he is a “big game” pitcher with few if any peers.

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