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This Day in Cardinals History: St. Louis win 18th NL Pennant over Brewers

The Cardinals may not be in this year, but long before the Brewers won their first NL pennant, it was the Cardinals who stood in the way and prevented them.
ByCurt Bishop
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Oct 16, 2011; Milwaukee, WI, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese hits a double in the third inning of game six of the 2011 NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2011; Milwaukee, WI, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese hits a double in the third inning of game six of the 2011 NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With the Brewers now headed to the World Series, now is a good time to remember the time the Cardinals kept them out of the Fall Classic. 15 years ago on this day, the Cardinals won their 18th National League pennant as part of one of their most historic postseason runs.

For context, the year was 2011. The Cardinals had been down 10 1/2 games in the wild card race before making a spirited September comeback and clinching the wild card on the final day of the regular season. They also had beaten the Phillies in the NLDS, but most still expected the Brewers to beat them in the NLCS.

The Cardinals came into Milwaukee for Game 6 up 3-2 in the series, needing just one more win to advance to the World Series.

Cardinals won 18th NL Pennant on this day in 2011

The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead against Shawn Marcum. Up 1-0 with two outs in the top of the first inning, the Cardinals got their first big hit of the night when David Freese launched a three-run homer to left field to extend the lead to 4-0.

But the Cardinals weren't out of the woods. Corey Hart hit a homer for the Brewers to get them on the board, and after Rafael Furcal homered to make it 5-1, the Brewers hit two more to come to within 5-4. Albert Pujols then hit a home run in the top of the third to make it 6-4. In just three innings, the two teams had combined for a total of six home runs, which set a postseason record.

From there, the Cardinals didn't look back, and by the bottom of the ninth inning, they led 12-6 and turned things over to Jason Motte looking to return to the World Series for the first time since winning it all in 2006.

Fortunately, Motte made quick work of the Brewers in the ninth and struck out Mark Kotsay to finish off the series and give St. Louis its 18th NL pennant. After hitting .545 in the series, Freese was named the NLCS MVP, adding another layer to the heartwarming story of a hometown kid going off in the postseason with the team he grew up cheering for.

Of course, we all know the rest. The Cardinals rallied from being down to their last strike twice against the Rangers in the World Series, with Freese hitting a game-tying triple and a walk-off home run to force Game 7, which the Cardinals won to secure their 11th World Series title. Freese was again named the MVP.

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