Much like Jeff Suppan, I’m all over the place tonight; the livebloggery began here.

Fourth inning: while I closed up the loose-ends–posted this entry, linked to it from the other one, used Firefox as a workaround so that the link actually appears on AOL’s weird blogging platform (I’m a Safari fan, myself)–Jeff Suppan retired the 8 and 9 hitters. That’s the Soup I like to see. And just after I write that he buries Curtis Granderson with a nasty curveball. Looks like he took a page from the Jeff Weaver Book of Not Caring and just got right back on the horse.

Til’ Death has gotten the John Mellencamp treatment; never have I been less excited about a heavily-promoted sitcom. Was there really a meeting in Fox Studios where someone fought for this one? “You know what I think the world needs? Another sitcom about a husband and wife who dislike eachother intensely.” The Lockhorns had better be collecting royalties on this.

Meanwhile, another shot for Jim Edmonds against Bonderman. And another out; I still like this matchup, but I’d also love to see the Cardinals take him out before J. Baseball gets another shot at him. I love the Scott Rolen matchup vs. anybody at this point; what a hustle play on that double.

Yadier! The easiest way for the Cardinals to upgrade at a position next year is for Yadi Molina to not suck so historically with the bat; the way he’s swinging the bat, it might happen. It’s good to see the Cardinals scratch some runs together; I’d love to see a big inning, but a run’s a run no matter how it’s scored at this point.

The fifth and sixth pass without incident. That’s good, because I was otherwise occupied, but bad because the Cardinals flailed on a great chance to tie the ballgame. I’m sorry, but there’s no way I’m not lifting Aaron Miles for a pinch-hitter in that situation. He’s just not a good hitter.

Seventh inning: so Jim Edmonds hasn’t done anything, but I’d like to remind everybody that I called that error. From the AOL blog:

I would be a little surprised if he goes hitless against the kid, in spite of that strikeout. If nothing else, they’re making him work; maybe they’re trying to make the bullpen play defense early.

Obviously this is the one major weakness of the Tigers that we failed to take into account. Great play, also, by Pujols to get himself thrown out. Seriously. Now it’s up to the bullpen. Can they please be unhittable just a little bit longer?

Eighth inning: this has really been the chance for Braden Looper to earn his contract; he saw little time in the first two series, but La Russa’s gone to him increasingly often in high leverage situations here. And it doesn’t pay off immediately, as Pudge smacks a double down the line. I can’t blame La Russa for this move, since Looper’s been great against righties all his career, but it’s never fun when the execution just isn’t there.

So Blooper misses out on his chance at Cards heroism, and Wainwright seals the deal with a tie-game double. Cards still have the advantage now that they’re out of that inning, what with home field advantage Todd Jones still in their corner.

Meanwhile, in the commercials, Fergie (of Black-Eyed Peas fame) manages to make John Cougar John Cougar Mellencamp Mellencamp look downright palatable. Just a stunning display of music-shillery ineptitude on the part of Our Sponsors.

Can Aaron Miles bunt off of a guy who throws 100 to get Yadier Molina to second? I have nightmares that start out exactly the same way. He manages to avoid the Worst Possible Outcome, but just barely.

Joel Zumaya - Juancar. I’m a Juan backer, but that strikes me as one of the most unfair matchups of all time.

WKKHG:LKH But it doesn’t matter! What an almost-play by Craig Monroe, who got a bad jump but nearly went all Jim Edmonds NLCS on the ball. Great job by Eckstein of pulling the unpullable.

And here we go. Adam Wainwright, in the longest closer-mentality stint of his career, to give the Cardinals a huge lead in the World Series. I do believe Tommy Lasorda lives for this.

Wainwright has been a little hyped up sometimes, but he goes right after Monroe and gores them both. And then–wow. What a game. The Cardinals did some terrible things with runners on base, and Suppan was far from perfect, but the Tigers just made more mistakes. I’ll take a win any way it comes–let’s keep The Cheat out of this series the old fashioned way, yeah?