Carlos Beltran is known for the havoc he causes against the Cardinals dating back to his days with the Astros. It seems these days he has a sidekick in Carlos Delgado that is creating just as much havoc, if not more. Beltran and Delgado combined to drive in seven runs in the Mets 12-5 win Sunday night.

The win ensured the Mets at least one more game back home in New York. Delgado hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning that gave the Mets a 5-2 lead. His two-run double the next inning sparked a six-run inning for New York.

Beltran continued his Cardinal killing career with two home runs in the contest, giving him seven homers in 11 NLCS games in his career. David Wright escaped a 0-for-13 slump with a solo homer. The 3-4-5 hitters for the Mets went 6-for-11 with four home runs and eight RBI. Jose Valentin chipped in with 3 RBI as New York evened the series at two games apiece.

Mets starter Oliver Perez was unimpressive surrendering five runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings, but still got the win. Perez perhaps benefited the most from the Mets explosive offensive output. New York’s bullpen was solid; Chad Bradford, Pedro Feliciano, and Guillermo Mota surrendered just two hits in 3.1 innings.

Game 5 is Monday night in St. Louis. Jeff Weaver is scheduled to start for the Redbirds against Tom Glavine for the Mets. Both pitchers pitched in Game 1, with the Mets winning 2-0. Glavine was dominant on the mound tossing seven shutout innings.

Related web sites:
Cardinals Official Website

Three seemed to be too much for the Chiefs defense to handle. Kansas City’s defense took advantage of second-year quarterback Alex Smith and rookie signal-caller Matt Leinart the two previous weeks. But Ben Roethlisberger, in his third year, figured it all out leading the World Champion Steelers to a 45-7 dismantling of the Chiefs Sunday.

Roethlisberger came into the game with no touchdown passes and one of the lowest quarterback ratings in the league. Many critics were starting to wonder if he had fully recovered from a June motorcycle accident and an appendectomy last month. Roethlisberger silenced those critics – even if just momentarily – completing 16-of-19 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns.

Perhaps more stunning for the Steelers was their defense and its performance Sunday night holding last year’s AFC rushing leader, Larry Johnson, to a paltry 26 yards on 15 carries. In the last two games, Johnson has combined to rush for 62 yards. Back-up quarterback Damon Huard had been on fire in relief of the injured Trent Green, but the flames were put out by Pittsburgh blitzing defense. Huard finished the game 16-of-32 for 162 yards and an interception. Brodie Croyle entered the game in mop-up duty and looked like a rookie completing 3-of-7 for 23 yards and two interceptions.

Pittsburgh’s running game was supposed to take a nose dive after the loss of Jerome Bettis to retirement. The Bus handed the rushing duties to “Fast” Willie Parker who continued to do a good job rushing for 109 yards on 21 carries and two scores.

Things do not get any easier for the Chiefs. Their next three games are against the Chargers (4-1), Seahawks (4-1), and Rams (4-2).

The Rams looked like the Greatest Show on Turf of the past, but forgot to bring its defense along in a 30-28 loss to the Super Bowl runner-up Seahawks.

St. Louis – who has not won a game by more than eight points – appeared to be on its way to another close victory, but Josh Brown’s 54-yard field goal with no time on the clock gave Seattle the come-from-behind win.

The Seahawks trailed 21-7 at halftime and 21-14 after three quarters before rallying for 16 points in the final quarter. Brown kicked three FGs and Deion Branch caught a 19 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Seattle was without wide receiver Bobby Engram, tight end Jerramy Stevens, and MVP running back Shaun Alexander.

Marc Bulger completed 26-of-39 passes for 360 yards and a touchdown. Steven Jackson scored on a 2-yard run in the second quarter, but was held to just 56 yards on 20 carries. Torry Holt had a breakout game for the Rams catching eight passes for 154 yards and three TDs.

Related web sites:
Rams Official Site