So Taguchi, the man with all of 16 home runs in his five seasons with the Cardinals, provided the fireworks with a ninth-inning home run that lead St. Louis past the Mets 9-6 in Game 2 of the NLCS last night. With the game tied at six apiece, the reserve outfielder fouled off several Billy Wagner pitches before launching a shot over the left field wall at Shea Stadium to give St. Louis their first lead of the game.

Chris Carpenter looked human in his third start of this postseason, allowing five runs in five innings. The bullpen pick up their teammate, giving up just one run in the final four frames. Josh Kinney picked up the win.

The Cards started their comeback with Yadier Molina’s two-run double in the second, and Jim Edmonds’ two-run home run in the third. Scott Spezio, filling in for Scott Rolen, tripled in the seventh to tie the game at six.

The series now shifts back to St. Louis for Game 3. Jeff Suppan gets the ball Saturday for the Redbirds. He’s opposed by New York’s Steve Trachsel.

Related web sites:
Cardinals’ Official Website