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| 2004 NLCS | |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Champion | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Champion mgr | Tony La Russa |
| Champion games | 105–57, .648, GB: — |
| Runnerup | Houston Astros |
| Runnerup mgr | Phil Garner |
| Runnerup games | 92–70, .568, GB: — |
| Dates | October 13–23, 2004 |
| Venue | Busch Stadium; Minute Maid Park |
| Mvp | Carlos Beltrán (Astros) |
2004 NLCS
The 2004 National League Championship Series pitted the St. Louis Cardinals against the Houston Astros in a seven-game series to determine the National League pennant and a berth in the 2004 World Series. The matchup featured veteran managers Tony La Russa and Phil Garner, future Hall of Famers, and starring players such as Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds, Lance Berkman, and Roger Clemens. The series was notable for its pivotal late-game moments, controversial managerial decisions, and performances by both established veterans and emerging stars.
The Cardinals entered the series after winning the NL Central with a 105–57 record under La Russa, powered by sluggers Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen and a rotation featuring Chris Carpenter and Matt Morris. The Astros, managed by Garner, won the NL Wild Card and the NLDS after key contributions from Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, and postseason acquisitions like Andy Pettitte. The series marked the first NLCS appearance for the Astros franchise, which had previously contended in the 1997 NLCS and featured postseason veterans such as Billy Wagner and Roy Oswalt.
St. Louis clinched the NL Central behind the offensive production of Pujols and the defense of Edmonds and Rolen, with La Russa’s bullpen strategy often relying on closer Jason Isringhausen. The Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, overcoming pitching from Brad Penny and hitting contributions from role players like Reggie Sanders. Houston advanced by defeating the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS, where starters Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte combined with clutch hitting from Lance Berkman and situational hitting by Bagwell and Biggio. Both teams entered the NLCS with momentum, contrasting the Cardinals’ regular-season dominance with the Astros’ postseason resilience.
Game 1 (October 13): At Busch Stadium, St. Louis used strong starting pitching from Chris Carpenter to secure an early series lead, while offensive sparks came from Pujols and Rolen. Game 2: The Cardinals extended their advantage as La Russa’s bullpen, including Isringhausen, preserved a tightly contested victory despite late rallies from Houston batters such as Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt. Game 3 (October 16): In Minute Maid Park, the Astros avoided a sweep behind a pitching duel featuring Roger Clemens and timely hitting by Bagwell and Carlos Beltrán. Game 4: Houston evened the series with Clemens and closer Billy Wagner shutting down the Cardinals, while offensive leadership came from Biggio. Game 5: Back in St. Louis, the contest tipped toward extra-inning drama, with late-inning heroics and managerial moves by La Russa and Garner drawing scrutiny. Game 6: The Astros forced a decisive Game 7 with a comeback that featured clutch hits from Berkman and defensive plays by center fielder Richard Hidalgo. Game 7 (October 23): In a tense finale, the Cardinals prevailed on a combination of late-inning scoring by Pujols and defensive plays by Edmonds, advancing to the World Series after seven games.
Carlos Beltrán provided power and on-base production throughout the series, driving in runs and drawing walks, earning him recognition for his offensive impact. Albert Pujols posted multiple extra-base hits and provided game-changing RBIs that anchored the Cardinals’ lineup. On the mound, Chris Carpenter’s starts showcased command and innings-eating ability, while Matt Morris and Jason Isringhausen supplied critical outs in high-leverage situations. For Houston, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte logged quality starts, and closer Billy Wagner recorded key saves; offensive pillars Lance Berkman, Jeff Bagwell, and Craig Biggio contributed multi-hit games and situational hitting. The series highlighted split statistics such as runs scored, earned run average leaders, on-base plus slugging comparisons between Pujols and Beltrán, and bullpen leverage index shifts involving Isringhausen and Wagner.
The NLCS included managerial decisions that sparked debate, including bullpen usage by La Russa and pitching changes by Garner that involved veterans like Clemens and Oswalt. Umpiring calls in late innings prompted dispute from both clubhouse leaders, with contentious rulings involving plays at the plate and strikezone interpretation. A pivotal turning point occurred in the late innings of Game 7 when a defensive miscue and a clutch hit altered the momentum, shaping the decisive outcome. Media narratives focused on the Astros’ first NLCS appearance and the Cardinals’ postseason pedigree, centering controversies on tactical calls, instant-replay-era limitations, and veteran versus analytics-driven approaches.
St. Louis advanced to the 2004 World Series, where they faced the Boston Red Sox; the Cardinals’ roster and La Russa’s managerial tenure continued to influence Cardinals strategy into the 2005 season. The Astros’ franchise benefited from the postseason exposure, accelerating organizational investments that contributed to future success, including their 2017 World Series appearance and later roster construction involving international signings. Players such as Pujols and Beltrán enhanced Hall of Fame conversations—Pujols later became a Hall of Famer—and the series remained a case study in late-game management, postseason pitching usage, and the evolving role of analytics in roster decisions. The 2004 NLCS endures in baseball history as a dramatic seven-game contest between two contrasting National League clubs.