Listen to the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the N.L. Division Series. Neither team has tomorrow as they go head-to-head in the final game of the best of five series. The radio stream is free online. If you can't watch the game, listen to the action online.
Click here to listen to Pirates vs. Cardinals in Game 5
The pitching matchup has been publicized heavily. There will be no A.J. Burnett for the Pirates as rookie Gerrit Cole will get the ball. Cardinals' manager, Mike Matheny, dodged a bullet as Michael Wacha produced for the team, keeping them alive in the series after winning Game 4.
The Pirates already played the Cardinals at home, splitting the first two games, but losing to today's pitcher, Adam Wainwright. Wainwright, who was a 2013 All-Star, continued his success in the NLDS against the Pirates in Game 1. In his two of his last three NLDS starts, Wainwright has gone a total of 15 innings, allowing two earned runs combined and no walks. It's one thing to allow one run, but when you also have control and do not hand out walks, it shows you're on your A-Game, which is what Wainwright has provided in the postseason.
Unfortunately for Cole, there is not much history to brag about. He's been in the league for less than a year as the rookie is to forever etch his name in Pirates history. Think about it, with a win, Cole could be known as the rookie pitcher who won two games and got the Pirates further into the playoffs. The Pirates have not been in the NLCS since 1992, when they made it to the League Championship Series three years in a row. Furthermore, the last time the Pirates won a World Series, it was 1979.
We do not have to trace too far back in our memory banks to remember the last time the Cardinals won the World Series. The Pirates need this victory, but they will have to earn it as the Cardinals are chasing after the franchise's 12th championship, the second most in baseball behind the New York Yankees.
Who will win this battle between two of the National League's best?