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Three memorable aspects of the Cardinals 2013 season
It's hard to believe, but over 10 years have gone by since the Cardinals last reached the World Series.
The 2013 season was truly a memorable one for the Cardinals. That year, they won 97 games on their way to their first NL Central title since 2009, coming out on top in a three-team race where all three NL Central powerhouses reached the postseason.
They faced off against the Pirates in the NLDS, battling back from a 2-1 deficit to eliminate their division rivals and advance to the NLCS.
There, the Cardinals would match up against the Dodgers, who they defeated in a six-game thriller. They took the first two games of the series at home before letting the Dodgers back into the series.
But in Game 6, they took it right to Clayton Kershaw, eliminating the Dodgers with a resounding 9-0 win.
Their final test was the Red Sox, who had been a surprise contender after finishing in last place the previous year. The team was also galvanized after the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15, as the City of Boston and all Red Sox fans rallied behind them.
The Cardinals lost Game 1, but bounced back in Game 2 and ended up taking a 2-1 lead in the series. But Boston showed tremendous fight, coming back late to win Game 4 and picking off Kolten Wong to end the game. They won Game 5 in St. Louis and defeated the Cardinals in Game 6 to cap off the series.
The Cardinals couldn't stop David Ortiz, but the 2013 season was memorable nonetheless.
Here are three things that stand out about that season.
Adam Wainwright's resurgence
After returning from Tommy John surgery in 2012, Adam Wainwright struggled a bit, but he finished strong and won 14 games while posting a 3.94 ERA.
But he was due for a big year in 2013, and that's exactly what took place. He re-established himself as the team's ace, winning 19 games and lowering his ERA by a full run from the previous year's mark.
He even finished second in the Cy Young race behind Clayton Kershaw, though Kershaw essentially ran away with it that year. But it was a sign that Wainwright was back to his old ways and dominating like he once had.
The highlight of the year for the two-time World Series champion was his complete game in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Pirates, a stark contrast from his performance in the NLDS against the Nationals the previous year, as he propelled the Cardinals to their third straight NLCS.
Michael Wacha's run
Perhaps the most memorable aspect of the 2013 season was the emergence of Michael Wacha. He made his MLB debut in May of 2013 but kept going back and forth between St. Louis and Memphis.
By September, he was in St. Louis again and he was there to stay. He came just one out short of a no-hitter against the Nationals on September 24, which ended up being a harbinger of things to come.
With the Cardinals facing elimination in the NLDS against the Pirates, Wacha took the ball in Game 4 against Charlie Morton. With Wacha having no postseason experience whatsoever, the odds were stacked against the Cardinals.
But he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and allowed just one run on a Pedro Alvarez home run. The Cardinals won 2-1 to set up Wainwright's dominant performance in the clinching Game 5.
Fast forward to the NLCS, and Wacha pitched two gems against the Dodgers, not allowing a single run as he won Games 2 and 6. Even more impressive was the fact that he did it against Kershaw, twice.
When the Cardinals finished off the series, Wacha was named the NLCS MVP. He went on to win Game 2 of the World Series against the Red Sox as well.
He couldn't save the Cardinals in Game 6, but the team wouldn't have even made it to the World Series if not for him.
Matt Carpenter and Allen Craig
Two of the Cardinals' young stars also helped carry the load in 2013. Matt Carpenter emerged as the team's starting second baseman and had a truly remarkable season, earning his first All-Star nod.
He also hit for a career-best .318 average and took over the leadoff spot for the National League champions. But he wasn't alone. Another offensive weapon emerged in the form of Allen Craig.
Craig's power numbers were down from the previous year, but he was perhaps the Cardinals' most consistent hitter. He hit .315 and even drove in 97 runs. His season came to an unfortunate end when he injured his ankle in Cincinnati, but he was still a key piece in the Cardinals' run to the World Series.
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