Adam Wainwright

Ryan Ludwick homered twice, Adam Wainwright became the majors' first 17-game winner, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 14-7, on Friday night for their 10th win in 12 games. Pittsburgh lost its eighth in a row despite a six-run fifth that gave it the lead after it trailed 5-0. After the Pirates went ahead, though, Albert Pujols gave St. Louis the lead again the following half-inning with a three-run homer, his major league-leading 43rd. Ludwick was five for five.

Tony La Russa, who revolutionized how bullpens are used and introduced the idea of batting the pitcher eighth, again has done something no manager before him has done: He has retired a champion. La Russa, 67, stepped down as the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, becoming the first manager to retire immediately after winning the World Series. He managed the Cardinals, Oakland Athletics and Chicago White Sox over a 33-year career during which he compiled a 2,728-2,365 record.

Chris Carpenter , 36, signed a $21-million, two-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. "We believe with him and Adam Wainwright we do have that 1-2 punch that we were so hopeful for this year and are glad it can be something we look forward to for 2012 and '13," General Manager John Mozeliak said. Josh Beckett to start for Red Sox Boston Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett , who sat out one start because of a sprained right ankle, will start Thursday or Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays, Manager Terry Francona said.

From St. Louis -- Albert Pujols might have played his last game for the St. Louis Cardinals. But it could be a while before the team's fans start to worry. Thanks to Chris Carpenter and David Freese, Cardinals fans will party for the foreseeable future. Those in St. Louis will adjust their schedules happily for a World Series parade and much bragging, and this time around Pujols is only a small part of their championship story. WORLD SERIES PHOTOS: Rangers vs. Cardinals Although the free agent-to-be delivered the greatest hitting performance in World Series history in Game 3 at Arlington, Texas, he then slid into a supporting role in two games at Busch Stadium that gave the Cardinals their 11th World Series championship while denying the Texas Rangers their first.

Even though they hold a commanding two-games-to-none lead in the National League division series, the Dodgers could have some extra incentive to complete a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals today at Busch Stadium. If the Cardinals beat the Dodgers in Game 3, they could bring back co-ace Chris Carpenter on short rest for Game 4 and have Adam Wainwright , their other co-ace, available on regular rest for Game 5. Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa acknowledged Friday that Carpenter was one option to start a potential Game 4. The other alternatives are Kyle Lohse or John Smoltz , who has a record 15 postseason victories but has struggled for most of the season.

'I wasn't thinking anything ... then I thought "Oh my goodness, I just hit a home run." ' Adam Wainwright, St. Louis pitcher, who homered on the first pitch he saw in the major leagues in the Cardinals' 10-4 win over San Francisco on Wednesday

Jim Tracy and the Dodgers will be getting ready for the playoffs next weekend, but not together. The Dodgers will make their fourth postseason appearance in six years. Tracy managed the Dodgers when that run started, in 2004. The only player remaining from that team is Jeff Weaver, who started Game 2 of the division series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Weaver was the losing pitcher. The winning pitcher was a then-obscure reliever named Dan Haren. The starter for St. Louis? Jason Marquis, now pitching for Tracy and the Rockies.

Albert Pujols hit a three-run double to reach 100 runs batted in for the ninth consecutive season and Adam Wainwright limited Pittsburgh to one run over 6 2/3 innings for his sixth consecutive road victory, leading the Cardinals past the Pirates, 5-3, on Saturday night. Pujols is the only National League player to begin his career with nine seasons of 100 or more RBIs. The only major leaguer with a longer streak is Hall of Famer Al Simmons, who had 11 consecutive seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics from 1924-34.

PHOENIX -- Adam Wainwright helped himself by doubling in two runs and Troy Glaus hit one of St. Louis' three home runs Tuesday night in an 8-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Yadier Molina and Felipe Lopez hit consecutive home runs to give Wainwright an early 5-0 lead. That made it seven home runs in two games for the Cardinals against the Diamondbacks. Arizona's National League West lead over the second-place Dodgers was sliced to 1 1/2 games. St. Louis is 5 1/2 back of Milwaukee in the wild-card race.

New York 6, at Milwaukee 5 (10 innings): Carlos Beltran hit a three-run home run, Endy Chavez drove in the decisive run in the 10th inning and six Mets relievers combined for seven shutout innings. Philadelphia 4, at Washington 0: Cole Hamels (12-8) gave up five hits in 7 1/3 innings, Jimmy Rollins drove in two runs and the Phillies ended the Nationals' winning streak at seven games. Atlanta 16, at Florida 14: Pinch-hitter Ruben Gotay had a run-scoring double in the ninth inning and the Braves spoiled a seven-run Marlins rally.

Chris Carpenter , 36, signed a $21-million, two-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. "We believe with him and Adam Wainwright we do have that 1-2 punch that we were so hopeful for this year and are glad it can be something we look forward to for 2012 and '13," General Manager John Mozeliak said. Josh Beckett to start for Red Sox Boston Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett , who sat out one start because of a sprained right ankle, will start Thursday or Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays, Manager Terry Francona said.

Reporting from St. Louis — Figuratively and literally, the Dodgers are limping out of St. Louis. The Dodgers on Saturday moved to within a defeat of being swept in a four-game series by the St. Louis Cardinals, losing, 2-0, in a game in which James Loney had to be helped off the field at Busch Stadium. With Andre Ethier standing on first base and none out in the top of the ninth inning, Loney grabbed his left hamstring after taking a swing that resulted in a popout to first base.

The San Diego Padres get the pitching love, and deservedly so, but the St. Louis Cardinals boast the starting rotation with the lowest earned-run average in the major leagues, all the more impressive after injuries to Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse . The All-Stars are Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright , but the unsung hero is rookie left-hander Jaime Garcia , who had a better ERA than Ubaldo Jimenez through Friday. The Cardinals selected Garcia in the 22nd round of the 2005 draft.

Monday through Wednesday: vs. St. Louis Cardinals Friday through Sunday: vs. Angels The Dodgers play the Cardinals for the first time since St. Louis rolled into town last fall, poised to strut into the National League championship series behind aces Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright . The Dodgers swept the series, beating Carpenter in Game 1 and outlasting Wainwright in Game 2 before Matt Holliday dropped the fly ball that...

San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum won the National League Cy Young Award on Thursday for the second straight year, emerging from one of the tightest votes in the history of the honor to become the first repeat winner since Randy Johnson . The wiry right-hander, nicknamed "the Freak" for his giant stride, needed only 15 victories to earn the award -- the fewest for a Cy Young starter over a non-shortened season. Lincecum led the NL with 261 strikeouts and tied for the league lead with four complete games and two shutouts.

Some of the highs and lows of watching Dodgers-Cardinals, Game 3: Say hey With their ovation at the introduction of Matt Holliday, St. Louis fans were saying, "We don't care if you blew a catch and cost us Game 2 and maybe the series." Nice people, those Midwesterners. Say what? In the top of the third, James Loney was safe at first when Cardinals pitcher Joel Pineiro, covering the bag, dropped Albert Pujols' perfect toss. Play-by-play man Dick Stockton said, "Manny safe at first."

The San Diego Padres get the pitching love, and deservedly so, but the St. Louis Cardinals boast the starting rotation with the lowest earned-run average in the major leagues, all the more impressive after injuries to Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse . The All-Stars are Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright , but the unsung hero is rookie left-hander Jaime Garcia , who had a better ERA than Ubaldo Jimenez through Friday. The Cardinals selected Garcia in the 22nd round of the 2005 draft.

Monday through Wednesday: vs. St. Louis Cardinals Friday through Sunday: vs. Angels The Dodgers play the Cardinals for the first time since St. Louis rolled into town last fall, poised to strut into the National League championship series behind aces Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright . The Dodgers swept the series, beating Carpenter in Game 1 and outlasting Wainwright in Game 2 before Matt Holliday dropped the fly ball that...

Even though they hold a commanding two-games-to-none lead in the National League division series, the Dodgers could have some extra incentive to complete a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals today at Busch Stadium. If the Cardinals beat the Dodgers in Game 3, they could bring back co-ace Chris Carpenter on short rest for Game 4 and have Adam Wainwright , their other co-ace, available on regular rest for Game 5. Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa acknowledged Friday that Carpenter was one option to start a potential Game 4. The other alternatives are Kyle Lohse or John Smoltz , who has a record 15 postseason victories but has struggled for most of the season.

The line drive pounded below Matt Holliday's chest and the dormant Dodgers' heart started pumping. A chance . . . a chance . . . a chance. With two out in the ninth inning of a certain loss, the tying run was suddenly on second base and blue blood was again coursing wildly through Chavez Ravine, fans screaming, Dodgers alive. A chance . . . a chance . . . a chance. It pumped through Casey Blake's arms as he fought through the best clutch plate appearance of the season: nine pitches, three foul balls, one walk.