2004 NLCS Game 7 Cardinals Victory
From the brink of elimination to a legendary extra-inning triumph at Busch Stadium.
The 2004 National League Championship Series Game 7 stands as one of the most dramatic and defining moments in St. Louis Cardinals franchise history. Faced with elimination against the Houston Astros, the Cardinals mounted a historic comeback from a two-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning to force extra innings, eventually winning on an Eddie Murray sacrifice fly in the eleventh. This victory not only secured their trip to the World Series but also cemented the legacy of manager Tony La Russa and closer Jason Isringhausen during a turbulent era.
- Series
- 2004 NLCS
- Opponent
- Houston Astros
- Location
- Busch Stadium (St. Louis)
- Result
- Cardinals Win in Extra Innings
- Winning Pitcher
- Jason Isringhausen
- Hero of the Game
- Jim Edmonds & Scott Rolen
- Historical Context
- First 7-game NLCS victory for Cardinals since 1985
Lore & Background
Jim Edmonds' home run to tie the game provided the spark that ignited the crowd and shifted the momentum irrevocably toward St. Louis. The subsequent walk-off victory by Eddie Murray in the eleventh inning is remembered not just for its statistical outcome, but for the sheer emotional release it brought to a city that had waited years for such a defining playoff moment. It remains a touchstone for Cardinals fans, symbolizing the team's ability to overcome adversity when it matters most.
In Their Own Story
The lights of Busch Stadium hummed with an intensity that felt almost physical as the eleventh inning approached. The air was thick with the scent of popcorn and the collective held breath of fifty thousand souls. In the dugout, Tony La Russa watched silently, his eyes fixed on the diamond where destiny awaited. When Murray stepped up to the plate, time seemed to slow; every crack of the bat echoed like a thunderclap across the Mississippi, sealing a victory that would be whispered about for generations.
Reader's Guide
The game began with a tense standoff as both teams traded blows in the early innings, but Houston managed to take a narrow lead heading into the ninth. The Cardinals' offense sputtered initially, leaving fans on the edge of their seats as two outs loomed large.
Jim Edmonds then delivered the series-defining moment by launching a towering home run that tied the game and sent the stadium into a frenzy. The momentum shifted instantly, with both teams exchanging threats but failing to score in the subsequent frames.
In the eleventh inning, with the bases loaded and one out, Eddie Murray stepped up to the plate. He lifted a sac fly to center field, allowing Scott Rolen to tag up and race home for the winning run. Jason Isringhausen closed it out, securing a place in World Series history.
Did You Know?
- This was the first time since 1985 that the Cardinals won a seven-game NLCS series.
- Jim Edmonds hit his second home run of the game to tie the score in the ninth inning.
- Eddie Murray, who had previously played for several other teams, delivered the winning RBI as a Cardinal.
- The victory marked Tony La Russa's first pennant win with the St. Louis Cardinals franchise.