(SportsNetwork.
John
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their second World Series in three seasons they are going to have to earn it.
Tonight, the Cardinals will try to finish off the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6
of the National League Championship Series at Busch Stadium. That may be easier
said than done, though, as the Cardinals will be going up against perhaps the
best pitcher in baseball in left-hander Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw is likely
headed toward another NL Cy Young Award after a remarkable regular season that
saw him go 16-9 and lead the major leagues with a minuscule 1.83 ERA and an
NL-best 232 strikeouts. The Cardinals, though, have given him fits, as he lost
twice to them in the regular season and, despite a terrific effort, was defeated
by them on Saturday in Game 2 of this series. Kershaw gave up an unearned run
and two hits over six innings of that one to fall to 1-1 with a 0.47 ERA in
three starts this postseason. "All we have to do is score for him," said Dodgers
first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. St. Louis, meanwhile, will be trying to secure an
amazing 19th NL pennant behind rookie Michael Wacha, who has been spectacular
this postseason, winning both of his starts, while pitching to a 0.64 ERA. Wacha
was able to outduel Kershaw in Game 2 by scattering five hits over 6 2/3
scoreless innings. Counting his last start of the regular season, when he came
within an out of a no-hitter, he is 3-0 with an 0.42 ERA. "I just expect Michael
to go out and do what hes done, just like the rest of our guys," Cardinals
manager Mike Matheny said. "Stick with what youve done all along the way, and
dont ignore and dont deny the excitement." Los Angeles staved off elimination on
Wednesday, as Gonzalez hit two of the Dodgers four home runs in a 6-4 win at
Dodger Stadium. Carl Crawford and A.J. Ellis also delivered solo blasts for the
NL West champs, who hadnt homered at all in dropping three of the first four
matchups to St. Louis. "I think if you look at it now, weve kind of become
Americas team because everyone wants to see a seventh game," Dodgers manager Don
Mattingly said. "Probably even fans in St. Louis want to see a seventh game, so
I figure that everyones for us to win on Friday night." Zack Greinke (1-0)
worked out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the first, then limited the Cardinals
to two runs on six hits over seven innings. He also helped his cause with an RBI
single. "When Zack got out of that inning with no runs, it was just a huge
momentum swing in the game," Dodgers second baseman Mark Ellis said. "Sometimes
a game is won or lost in that first inning. I think that first inning had a huge
impact on todays game." Matt Holliday went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Matt Adams
and Matt Carpenter each collected two hits in the loss for the Cardinals, who,
of course, have lost an NLCS both times they have held a 3-1 lead, including
last year to the San Francisco Giants. Unlike last year though, the Cards will
play the final two games in St. Louis, where they are 25-6 since Aug. 11. "Were
not going to San Francisco, were going home, so I think thats a big plus," Cards
third baseman David Freese said. If necessary, Game 7 will be played on Saturday
at Busch Stadium.
Karl
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Dallas 3-pointers, as Memphis took control in the third quarter and fended off a
Mavericks rally en route to a 114-105 win in a Southwest Division showdown.
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skated with extras and goalies today.PHILADELPHIA -- Trade talk mostly fizzled
at the NHL draft. "It just seemed to me there were a lot of phone calls, a lot
of talking, people interested, but nothing really happened," Ottawa Senators
general manager Bryan Murray said. Aside from Ryan Kesler getting dealt before
proceedings got underway and then James Neal a few hours later, the weekend
passed without much major action. One small trade -- the Calgary Flames getting
Brandon Bollig from the Chicago Blackhawks for a third-round pick -- looked like
a preview of many more to come as cap-strapped teams try to get under the US$69
million ceiling set for next season. "Its a puzzle to put together and try to
make all the numbers work," Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said
Saturday. "Thats clearly the biggest factor youre faced with when you have
salary cap being what it is. Youre going to have some tough decisions. Were not
the only team thats in that position. There will be other teams that face the
same things." Without naming names, Bowman was describing the plight of the
Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers, along with his Blackhawks, who almost
certainly have to make sacrifices just to be cap-compliant. In the Bruins case,
it might mean saying goodbye to Jarome Iginla, a 61-point player and a major
piece of their Presidents Trophy-winning season. "If we cant sign Jarome, were
going to find a good player at that position," Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli said
Friday night. "We feel all our young guys and our current players are going to
get better." Its unclear what else the Bruins might have to do with forwards
Reilly Smith, Jordan Caron and Justin Florek and defenceman Torrey Krug and
Matt Bartkowski needing new deals as restricted free agents. According to
CapGeek, Boston has just over $1.6 million to spend. The Flyers, technically
over the cap by a couple hundred thousand dollars, have some room with
defenceman Chris Pronger bound for long-term injured reserve. But theyre still
reportedly shopping Vincent Lecavalier to rid themselves of at least part of his
$4.5 million cap hit for the next four seasons. Chicago managed to part with
Bolligs $1.25-million cap hit but might have to clear more salary to fiill out
the roster.
Jeff
Hornacek Jazz Jersey. Enter the likes of the Flames, Edmonton Oilers and
Buffalo Sabres, teams with salary-cap space to take on salary. Oilers GM Craig
MacTavish knows players wont be given away, but talent should be available.
"Were in a pretty enviable position to be able to take on some of those
contracts," MacTavish said Friday night. "Those are really the style of deals
that weve looked to make over the last little while where we give up a few
assets, take the contract and the cap space, so well be trying to do some of
that." That was part of what went into the Flames trading for Bollig, who just
signed a contract extension in March. When the cap was set at $69 million, it
was at least $1 million, if not more, less than GMs were hoping for. "Weve been
looking at situations with the cap where people that may have difficulty or be
in a situation where they had to move money," Flames GM Brad Treliving said.
Sabres GM Tim Murray implied that hed be willing to accept expensive contracts,
but only if he gets an asset like a draft pick in return. "I tried to make a big
trade today, a unique trade," Murray said Saturday. "I said, We got to do like
the NBA. So I went to a team and said, You trade me your first pick from
yesterday. He didnt want to be the first guy to do that. So Im not sure I did,
either. But I thought it was a good idea." There could be a market for those
NBA-style deals if GMs determine the cap space gained is worth it. More likely,
teams up against the $69 million limit will be getting partial value on current
players to clear room to manoeuvre when unrestricted free agency opens Tuesday.
Plenty of money will get handed out then, and the teams that dont have the space
to do it will be forced to rely on younger players to fill the void. Bowman, who
has gone through this during two Stanley Cup runs, called it just the
continuation of the development cycle. "Its a constant process of finding guys
who will be able to fill those roles," he said. "Its a never-ending game. Thats
the state of the game today. But you have to find players, whether theyre free
agents or like today draft picks and work with making it to the point where they
can be NHL contributors."
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