Holy Molina: Cardinals clinch pennant

Photos from the Associated Press

Friday, October 20, 2006

Molina hits a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 3-1 victory in Game 7 of the NLCS over the New York Mets.

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa smiles during his news conference before the game. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Mets' Oliver Perez pitches agianst the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning. (AP Photo/Andrew Gombert)
St. Louis Cardinals' Jeff Suppan pitches to New York Mets' Paul LoDuca in the first inning. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Second base umpire Jerry Layne, right, signals safe after New York Mets' Carlos Beltran, center, beat the tag from St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Ronnie Belliard for a double during the first inning. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

New York Mets batter David Wright hits an RBI single in the first inning. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina heads to first after laying down a sacrifice bunt to score Jim Edmonds from third base during the second inning. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Mets outfielder Endy Chavez makes a leaping catch at the wall to take away a home run from Scott Rolen during the sixth inning. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New York Mets Jose Valentin reacts after striking out in the sixth inning. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
St. Louis Cardinals Yadier Molina, right and New York Mets pitcher Aaron Heilman watch Molina's two-run home run in the ninth inning. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina celebrates his two-run homer in the ninth inning. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New York Mets Cliff Floyd steps into the dugout after striking out looking in the ninth inning. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina leaps into the arms of pitcher Adam Wainwright after the final out in the Cardinals' 3-1 win. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
St. Louis Cardinals players celebrate after the final out. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Yadier Molina, Albert Pujols, and Adam Wainwright hold up the trophy in the locker room. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The St. Louis Cardinals celebrate with champagne in the locker room. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina is sprayed with champagne in the clubhouse. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jeff Suppan answers questions in a news conference after the Cardinals' 3-1 win. Suppan was named the Most Valuable Player of the series. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)