Cardinals return to World Series with 12-6 win over Brewers

**Admin** Mon Oct 17, 2011 10:38 am

3rd baseman David Freese, who took MVP honors in the series, hit a three-run homerun in the 1st inning and manager Tony La Russa again turned to his bullpen for seven innings as the St. Louis Cardinals captured their 18th National League championship with a 12-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Trailing by 10 1/2 games in the wild-card race on August 25th, the Cardinals surged down the stretch and took advantage of a monumental collapse by Atlanta to win a playoff spot on the final night of the regular season.

In a twist of fate, it was Philadelphia that helped them get in by completing a three-game sweep of the Braves.

Once in the postseason, Albert Pujols and the Cardinals took out the heavily favored Phillies in the first round, then dispatched the division-rival Brewers on their own turf in Game 6 of the NLCS.

Looking for its second title in six seasons, St. Louis will open the World Series at home this Wednesday night with ace Chris Carpenter on the mound against the American League champion Texas Rangers.