The Cardinals can’t afford another mistake. Last night they fell into a 3-1 hole in the National League Championship series, losing to the Giants 4-3 in Game 4. The Cards scored two runs in the first inning thanks to a Jim Edmonds sacrifice and Tino Martinez’s run-scoring single. It was his first RBI of the post season. Reliever Rick White came in for Andy Benes in the sixth inning. He allowed just two hits but they were both big. After Benes put two on, White gave up a two-run double to J.T. Snow to tie it. In the eighth, after intentionally walking Barry Bonds, White served up a two-run homer to Benito Santiago. Trailing 4-2, the Redbirds rallied in the ninth. Santiago let the ball get past him on a swinging third strike from Kerry Robinson and the Cardinal pinch hitter raced to first. Fernando Vina followed up with a single. After Edgar Renteria moved the runners into scoring position with a grounder, Jim Edmonds drove in Robinson with a single. But Albert Pujols and J.D. Drew struck out to end the game. Game 5 is tonight in San Francisco. Matt Morris faces Kirk Rueter.
