Desperate Padres try to snare momentum

The Cardinals send Morris to the mound tonight in hopes of ending the series.

SAN DIEGO -- Dave Roberts knew desperation last October in Boston.

Here he is again, facing the possible end to his postseason.

Roberts and his San Diego Padres will disappear without a trace from the playoffs unless they beat the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of their National League Division Series tonight at Petco Park.

The Padres won the NL West with only 82 victories, and not many people gave them a chance against the Cardinals, who at 100-62 had baseball's best record and lead this series 2-0.

"You come in here and everyone's expecting us to lose three straight," Roberts said Friday. "If we can win one game and maybe kind of put the pressure on them a little bit and win another game, then things can change.

"But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, we need to win one game."

The most notable thing the Padres have done in this series, besides losing ace Jake Peavy to a broken rib, is hit into seven double plays in the first two games in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 8-5 on Tuesday and 6-2 on Thursday.

"We haven't had a lead in two games," said Roberts, the center fielder and leadoff batter who will be back in the lineup tonight against right-hander Matt Morris.

The Padres will counter with right-hander Woody Williams, who made four postseason starts for the Cardinals last year, including Game 1 of the World Series against Boston.

"Something needs to spark us, and I think that we'll do something," Roberts said. "Whether it be a great play or a big hit, a two-out hit, something like that. We haven't had any of the above. We need to get something like that to kind of get the momentum."

Who knows? Maybe it will be a stolen base by Roberts.

Last fall, the diminutive Roberts stood on first base in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the AL Championship Series, and the whole world knew he had to steal second against Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees in order to keep Boston's season alive. Roberts swiped the bag, scored the tying run on Bill Mueller's single and the Red Sox went on to win in 12 innings to begin their unprecedented comeback from a 3-0 deficit.

Then they swept the Cardinals in the World Series.

"Last year, I think the situation we were in was a lot tougher task than the situation we're in right now, because we were down to three outs, and had to win four straight games," Roberts said. "Stranger things have definitely happened, and I've been part of something strange."

The Padres think they'll need to play more aggressively tonight, especially at spacious Petco Park, where the ball doesn't carry well at night and scoring runs can be difficult.

"The last thing we want to do is give these guys life to get back in the series," St. Louis second baseman Mark Grudzielanek said.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said facing Williams can change the game's dynamic.

"When you face a guy who's been such a great teammate, and we have experienced so much together, it makes it a lot more personal," La Russa said. "We know him, he knows us. It's definitely a different type of game."

Williams was 9-12 in the regular season, with a 4.85 ERA.

"I think his experience is invaluable," Padres second baseman Mark Loretta said. "He doesn't have any fear and he doesn't take his time. He dictates the pace, and it's a quick pace. I think it's good for him to be in this role, being where we are, having his experience. I think he can handle it probably better than any other pitcher we have."

Williams lost 4-2 to the Cardinals here on July 26. Morris got a no-decision in an 8-3 Padres win at St. Louis on May 5. He was 14-10 with a 4.11 ERA in the regular season.

Williams doesn't think it will be emotional facing his old team, but he will welcome the support from the home crowd.

"I just think things should work in our favor as far as the home-field advantage tomorrow," Williams said. "Pitching against an offense like the Cardinals never makes it easy to pitch at all. I am familiar with their hitters; they are familiar with me.

"We are in a hole, but the hole's not closed yet. We still have some life," he said.

In Morris' only start at Petco Park, on Sept. 8, 2004, he was knocked out before he could get an out in the third inning of a 10-5 loss. He allowed seven runs and five hits, walked three and had no strikeouts.

"You know, it's a pitcher-friendly ballpark. Do I know that firsthand? No," Morris joked. "But I believe it's a pitcher-friendly ballpark, so we'll have to test that out."