Themen über das Spiel! » were down 3-0, they stuck with us and th

PHOENIX - The St. Louis Cardinals never made it easy on themselves, labouring through injuries and inconsistency, unable to get into the NL Central race until around the All-Star break.Even after they surged into the lead, the Cardinals had a hard time finishing it off, limping to the finish while allowing Pittsburgh to hang around for a chance at the division title.It all came down to game No. 162 and it ended up being the easiest win of the season a€” even if they didnt need it.The Cardinals clinched their second straight NL Central title before the first pitch Sunday and finished off the regular season with a get-to-the-celebration 1-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.Next up: The Dodgers in the NL division series Friday in Los Angeles.Fortunately, we weathered the storm and the guys just put their nose down, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. Im real proud of the guys.The Cardinals were assured of a playoff spot entering the day. What that spot would be depended on whether they could beat the Diamondbacks or Cincinnati knocked off Pittsburgh.The Reds took care of business for the Cardinals by beating the Pirates 4-1, a victory that was announced about 10 minutes before St. Louis game against Arizona.The Cardinals celebrated in the dugout, then it did it again after the final out against the Diamondbacks, wildly spraying each other with champagne and beer after an oh-so-sweet finish to their second straight 90-win season.We know Pittsburgh had a good run, but we had a better one, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina said.Once Sundays game started, both teams seemed to go through the motions, the only run coming on Kolten Wongs groundout in the sixth inning off Josh Collmenter (11-9).The Cardinals scratched scheduled starter Adam Wainwright just before the start, using five relievers instead. Justin Masterson (3-3) pitched two scoreless innings and Carlos Martinez got the final two outs for his first save.Arizona went down meekly, managing two hits to finish 64-98, worst in the majors and second-worst record in team history.We had higher expectations coming out of the spring, Arizona reliever Brad Ziegler said. Whether you look at the injuries or the pure lack of execution on the field, this is not how we wanted to finish. We definitely dont feel like we are the worse team in baseball, even though the record says we were this year.The Cardinals went to the World Series last season, yet have seemed to make it hard on themselves this season, taking the NL Central race down to the final game after limping to the finish.St. Louis had a chance to wrap up the division title Saturday night, but couldnt put away the Diamondbacks, losing 5-2 after Mark Trumbo hit a pair of homers.Cincinnati eliminated the drama for St. Louis with a win that sent the Pirates to the wild-card game and St. Louis into the division series. The result was announced at Chase Field about 10 minutes before first pitch and the Cardinals celebrated with a round of high-fives and hugs in the dugout.I think I threw a pitch without looking because I was watching the scoreboard, Wainwright said. It was a great feeling.Matheny said Wainwright would start the season finale regardless of what happened with the Pirates, but he was replaced by Nick Greenwood just before the game.With nothing to play for on either side, the Cardinals and Diamondbacks breezed through a brisk, free-swinging game that was more like spring training than a season finale.COLLMENTERS OUTINGCollmenter was Arizonas best starter down the stretch of the season and turned in another solid outing the finale, even if he didnt get much support. The right-hander allowed three hits in eight innings, dropping his ERA to 1.26 over his final seven starts.I just wanted to finish the season strong, Collmenter said.NUMBERSThe Cardinals notched their 23rd shutout of the season, third-most in team history. The 1968 team had 30 and the 1944 team 26. ... Arizonas Ender Inciarte went 0 for 4 to end a 15-game hitting streak. ... Masterson earned his first win as a reliever since July 5, 2009, against Seattle.TRAINERS ROOMCardinals: LF Matt Holliday was out of the lineup after leaving in the sixth inning Saturday night due to flu-like symptoms.UP NEXT:Cardinals: Wainright will start against NL Cy Young Award favourite Clayton Kershaw in the division series opener against the Dodgers. Authentic Miami Dolphins Jerseys .com) - James Harden put the Houston Rockets on his back and willed them to an overtime victory on Thursday. Cheap Miami Dolphins Gear . Louis Cardinals on Sunday afternoon; a brief, poor outing that served to highlight two trends that have developed this season. http://www.cheapdolphins.com/. Poti played in 824 regular NHL games with four teams in his career; the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals. Stitched Miami Dolphins Jerseys . 2015 Oscar nomination pending. Here is an open letter from Steven Stamkos to his fans: When I shot this final Moment Zero film last August, it was a fun few days on set with Coke Zero and Jordan Eberle in my hometown of Markham. Miami Dolphins Michael Deiter Jersey .ca. Kerry, In the closing minutes of the second period of Game 4 between Pittsburgh and Columbus there were the remnants of two broken sticks behind the Pittsburgh net.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In the dressing room after Brandon Dubinskys late goal forced overtime, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Nick Foligno half-jokingly said hed get the winner. Then he did it. Dubinsky scored with 22.5 seconds left in regulation and Folignos wrist shot just inside the blue line 2:49 into the extra session -- from right over the top of the Stanley Cup painted under the ice -- gave the upstart Columbus Blue Jackets a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night. Asked if he had called the goal, Foligno laughed. "I might have," he said with a wide grin. "I didnt actually think it would work out, but it ended up working. Im going to thank my lucky stars." The Blue Jackets overcame a 3-0 deficit for their first home playoff victory in the franchises 13 seasons, sending the series back to Pittsburgh for Game 5 on Saturday night tied 2-2. The defeat left the Penguins, who had rolled over Columbus in all five meetings during the regular season, stunned. "We lost the game, its 2-2 now and we have to have a response from our whole group," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. Craig Adams, Chris Kunitz and James Neal scored in a 5:01 span in the first period to stake the Penguins to a three-goal lead and briefly silence the rowdy crowd of 18,970. But the Blue Jackets, unlike prior teams that had made the franchise a laughing stock by piling up defeats and failing in big games, kept coming. Rookie Boone Jenner scored on a 5-on-3 power play to cut it to 3-1. That was an ominous sign for the Penguins. In the three previous games of the series, a team had scored first on the way to a 3-1 lead -- and then lost the game. This one was no different. Ryan Johansen, who would star on Dubinskys tying shot, then tapped in a goal, also with a man advantage, to make it 3-2 through two periods. It stayed that way, both Marc-Andre Fleury of Pittsburgh and Columbus Sergei Bobrovsky trading big saves, until the final minute. As brilliant as he had been at times, Fleury was the culprit. Without really having to, he elected to go to the back wall to handle Jack Johnsons pass around the boards. He whiffed trying to handle the puck, it hopping over his stick, and he was left out of position. Johansen was there to saucer a quick backhanded pass through the crease where Dubinsky netted it with 22.5 seconds left. "We just dumped it in and went to work," said Dubinsky, acquired in the blockbuster deal that shipped captain and franchise hallmark Rick ;Nash to the New York Rangers two years ago.dddddddddddd "It was a Columbus goal. We forechecked them hard, Joe threw it out front to me. I dont know what happened with Fleury, but a couple of guys went down and I shot through them and it went into the net." That touched off a wild celebration, with dancing in the aisles and the loudest sound heard in the Blue Jackets mostly dismal 13 seasons -- well, for at least a few minutes. Meanwhile Dubinsky slid on one knee on the ice before being mobbed by his teammates. In the overtime, the Blue Jackets had the best of it -- as they had for all but the start. Foligno carried the puck through the neutral zone and was 12 feet across the blue line when he fired a low wrister that he tucked under Fleurys glove. As the players piled on top of Foligno, the crowd went crazy again. "The fans were outstanding," Foligno said. "When we were down 3-0, they stuck with us and they kept cheering us on. And it really gave us a lot of momentum throughout the game." Fleury finished with 42 saves but had no explanation for what happened on the tying goal. "They dumped it in and I thought I would stop it for my (defence)," he said. "I dont know, it just bounced over my stick and went right to their guy (Johansen). And he put it right in front." Penguins captain Sidney Crosby defended his goalie. "I didnt get a good look but, you know what, I trust Marc," he said. "For a puck to come out like that, Im sure it had to take a bounce or some kind of a weird hop." Bylsma also blamed a funny bounce. "It was just a puck that comes off of the stanchion and its a bouncing puck," he said. "Obviously, it leaves them with an open cage and an opportunity." The closing goals buoyed the hopes of the Blue Jackets and called into question the Penguins, who have been playoff busts since winning the Stanley Cup in 2009. "I dont know if you can script a better finish," Richards said. Notes: The NHL announced earlier Wednesday that Game 5 will start at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Pittsburgh. ... Bobrovsky had 22 saves for the Blue Jackets. ... Columbus was without rookie D Ryan Murray, who was wearing a boot after being hit with a puck in practice. Veteran Nick Schultz took his spot. ... Bylsma said he was hopeful C Marcel Goc (ankle) may be able to play in the series. ... Likely NHL MVP Crosby has not scored a goal in his last nine playoff games and Evgeni Malkin hasnt found the net in his last eight. Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '