‘Dream matchup' wish comes true for La Russa

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ST. LOUISShadows and squirrels and a centerfielder that fell down. And now Game 5.

It has been a weird NLDS. The improbable Ben Francisco's pinch-hit home run the other evening was just part of the odd events that have unfolded in the series. There were more bizarre twists on Thursday at Busch Stadium.

In Game 4while the aforementioned squirrel was touring the stadium (again), and the shadows (and Victorino) were falling in inconvenient locations at unfortunate timesthe Cardinals got a 424-foot two-run homer from David Freese, decent enough pitching from Edwin Jackson, and plenty of help from the Phillies' bats, which might as well be tossed onto a pyre since they have produced runs in just three of the last 25 innings.

Roy Oswalt was bad (six innings, five hits, six earned runs) and Ryan Howard was worse (he went 0 for 4 for the second straight game) and the Phillies lost, 5-3. The series is now tied 2-2. (See story.)

Weird. Weird and ugly. And there is more of it to come.

Might be fitting that it goes down to a fifth game, Charlie Manuel said. Were a good team. Theyre a good team. Weve been in close games all year long. Its up to us to go get it. Its sitting right there for us. Weve got our ace going and were at home, and so everything is sitting right there. And, basically, thats why we worked like hell to get the home-field advantage. Its evened up, and well go from there. I feel very confident. I feel like weve got to take it to them. If we dont get it, its our fault.

Its a little early to be talking about who is at fault, but if youre searching for someone to blame in the short termand Im sure many of you arethere are plenty of options.

Oswalts teams are now 1-3 in elimination games hes pitched during his postseason career. Howard is hitting .133 this postseason. Placido Polanco .125. Carlos Ruiz .071. Chase Utley is hitting a robust .462, but on Thursday, with the Phillies down only a run, he chose a bad spot to be overly aggressive on the base paths and made the first out of the inning at third base at a crucial juncture. With the exception of Jimmy Rollins, you could pick one or several players and have all the scapegoats you need.

Me? I blame Tony La Russa for all this madness. Hes easy to loathe, and I think he willed a Game 5 by employing what must be a proprietary brand of sinister managerial voodoo magic. Back in Philly, before the teams decamped for St. Louis, TLR kept talking about how much he wanted to see Roy Halladay battle Chris Carpenter in a decisive Game 5.

In fact, I was telling somebody, I'd love to be in this park for Game 5 if Halladay and Carpenter are going against each other, La Russa said nearly a week ago. That would be more than worth the price of admission.

He echoed that sentiment on Thursday before Game 4. Bad juju.

I think its a dream matchup because the two guys are great, and they were great together in Toronto, La Russa said, stopping short of sacrificing a live chicken or invoking Jobus name. They have maintained a relationshipI mean, you cant ask for anything scripted better than that. I know a lot of usI havent heard them say it, but I know a lot of us on the Cardinals side even mentioned in Philadelphia that the opportunity to play that Game 5 with that matchup was as special as it gets. It would be really special for a lot of reasons if it happens.

And now La Russa will get what he wanted all alonga Game 5 that will surely have people in two cities stressed out. So hooray for that.

In fairness, La Russa isnt the only person who anticipated this possibility or talked about the prospect fondly. Earlier in the series, Halladay was also asked about a potential Game 5 clash with Carpenter.

You know what, I think we'd enjoy it, Halladay said before Game 1. Carpenter has obviously been a good friend, playing together, taught me a lot. I came up behind him. I think we're a lot similar in a lot of different ways. You know, we always enjoyed golfing against each other, fishing against each other, and haven't to this point got a chance to pitch against each other.

"Yeah, I think that a lot of people put emphasis on opposing pitchers, and really for me it's more focus on the lineup and the guys that I have to get out. You know, I'd look forward to pitching against Chris. He's obviously one of the best and has been very good for a long time, and that's always a challenge.

A challenge. Thats a good way to describe the series, too. And on it goes.

E-mail John Gonzalez jgonzalez@comcastsportsnet.com.

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