Schedule and 2006 Results
Regular Season Records: N.Y. Mets 97-65, St. Louis 83-78
Game 1 on Thursday, 12 October: St. Louis loses at N.Y. Mets, 2-runs-nil
Game 2 on Friday, 13 October: St. Louis wins at N.Y. Mets, 9-runs-6
Game 3 on Saturday, 14 October: N.Y. Mets lose at St. Louis, 5-runs-nil
Game 4 on Sunday, 15 October: N.Y. Mets win at St. Louis, 12-runs-5
Game 5 on Tuesday, 17 October: N.Y. Mets lose at St. Louis, 4-runs-2
Game 6 on Wednesday, 18 October: St. Louis loses at N.Y. Mets, 4-runs-2
Game 7 on Thursday, 19 October: St. Louis wins at N.Y. Mets, 3-runs-1

SERIES NOTES:

After Game 7: With two runs in the top of the ninth inning, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Mets in New York 3-runs-1 to win best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL playoff series 988, 4-games-3. The St. Louis Cardinals thus improved their best-of-7 MLB playoff series record to 13-11, while that for the New York Mets fell to 4-5. St. Louis' Game 7 record in best-of-7 MLB playoff series is now 10-4; those 10 wins are an MLB high. During the 2006 MLB regular season, the New York Mets finished 13.5 games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals. The series 988 win by the Cardinals thus becomes the fourth-greatest upset best-of-7 MLB playoff series win in history, behind only series 2 (Chicago White Sox finished 22.5 games behind the Chicago Cubs but defeated the Cubs in the 1906 World Series), series 845 (New York Yankees finished 20 games behind the Seattle Mariners but defeated Seattle in the 2001 American League Championship Series), and series 101 (New York Giants finished 14 games behind the Cleveland Indians but defeated Cleveland in the 1954 World Series). St. Louis outscored New York 28-runs-27 in series 988: A total run differential of one is common in best-of-7 MLB playoff series (series 988 is the thirteenth); only two best-of-7 MLB playoff series ended with a total run differential of zero -- the latest of which was series 499, in which the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants each tallied 23 runs, with the Cardinals winning 4-games-3 in their 1987 National League Championship Series. The win order for the victorious St. Louis Cardinals in series 988 was LWWLWLW: Series 988 thus becomes the 21st MLB/NBA/NHL series (all rounds), the fourth MLB series (all rounds), and the second MLB Semifinals series to follow this win order. The first MLB team to follow this win order: the 1931 St. Louis Cardinals, in series 24 vs. the Philadelphia Athletics (in the World Series whose 75th anniversary is celebrated in October 2006). The site order for the victorious Cardinals in series 988 was VVHHHVV. The only previous best-of-7 MLB playoff series to follow a win order of LWWLWLW and a site order of VVHHHVV was series 306, in which the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Boston Red Sox in the 1975 World Series.

After Game 6: With best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL playoff series 988 back in New York for the duration, the host Mets defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4-runs-2, thereby tying series 988 at 3-games-all. In MLB playoff Game 7s, the St. Louis Cardinals have a record of 9-4 (3-4 in their last seven Game 7s; their nine Game 7 victories are an MLB high), while the New York Mets have a record of 1-2. In the history of best-of-7 MLB playoff series, home teams in Game 7 have a record of 25-21 (.544) overall and 7-4 (.636) in the Semifinals round. Favorable precedent for the New York Mets: Teams winning Game 6 at home to force a home Game 7 in best-of-7 MLB playoff series (all rounds) have an 11-0 record in their last eleven such Game 7s; ironically, this winning streak began in series 411, with the St. Louis Cardinals' win in the 1982 World Series. This 11-Game-7 winning streak comes on the heels of an 8-Game-7 losing streak under the same circumstances. Favorable precedent for the St. Louis Cardinals: In best-of-7 MLB playoff series, teams with a win order of LWWLWL (such as St. Louis in series 988) have a 3-0 Game 7 record (the first team to accomplish this win order and Game 7 win: the 1931 St. Louis Cardinals in series 24).

After Game 5: In the 800th best-of-7 format MLB playoff game, the St. Louis Cardinals hosted and defeated the New York Mets 4-runs-2 to take a 3-games-2 lead in best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL playoff series 988. When leading a best-of-7 MLB playoff series 3-games-2, the St. Louis Cardinals have a 5-4 series record with an active three-series losing streak. When trailing a best-of-7 MLB playoff series 3-games-2, the New York Mets have a 1-2 series record with an active two-series losing streak. The win order for the St. Louis Cardinals thus far in series 988 is LWWLW. In best-of-7 MLB playoff series (all rounds), teams with a LWWLW win order through the first five games have a series record of 4-0. The first best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL playoff series to follow a LWWLW win order irrespective of site was series 24, in which the St. Louis Cardinals posted such a win order en route to victory in the 1931 World Series. Those 1931 Cardinals thus offer a favorable precedent for their 2006 counterparts. In the history of best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL playoff series (all rounds), teams posting a win order of LWWLW and a site order of VVHHH (such as St. Louis) have a series record of 4-0. In best-of-7 MLB Semifinals, only once has a team posted a win order of LWWLW and a site order of VVHHH: In series 474, the New York Mets did so against the Houston Astros in their 1986 National League Championship Series twenty years ago. Those 1986 Mets would win Game 6 and the series. Ironically, then, the 1986 New York Mets set a favorable precedent for the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals ... against none other than the 2006 Mets.

After Game 4: In the wake of the shutout they suffered in Game 3, the New York Mets visited and defeated the Cardinals in St. Louis 12-runs-5 to tie best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL playoff series 988 at 2-games-all. When tied 2-games-all in a best-of-7 MLB playoff series, the St. Louis Cardinals have a series record of 10-2 (the two losses were suffered in series 23 [the 1930 World Series, against the Philadelphia Athletics] and in series 500 [the 1987 World Series, against the Minnesota Twins]), while the New York Mets have a series record of 2-2. The six-run sixth inning by the Mets in Game 4 reinforces the six-run sixth inning as the exclusive best-of-7 MLB playoff province of New York and St. Louis: Previous six-run sixth innings in best-of-7 MLB playoff games occurred in series 26 (by the New York Giants in 1933 World Series Game 2), 123 (by the New York Yankees in 1958 World Series Game 5), 411 (by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982 World Series Game 6), and 937 (by St. Louis in 2004 National League Championship Series Game 1). The seventeen total runs by the Mets and Cardinals in Game 4 sets a new record for most total runs in a best-of-7 MLB Semifinals Game 4, breaking the old mark of 16 set in series 821 (the 2000 National League Championship Series) Game 4 by ... the St. Louis Cardinals and the Mets in New York during the Mets' 10-runs-6 victory in that game. The dozen runs by the Mets in series 988 Game 4 ties a best-of-7 MLB Semifinals Game 4 record for most runs by one team, set in series 457 Game 4 (the 1985 National League Championship Series) by ... the St. Louis Cardinals against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After Game 3: The St. Louis Cardinals hosted and shut out the New York Mets 5-runs-nil in best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL playoff series 988 Game 3. St. Louis now leads the series 2-games-1. In best-of-7 MLB playoff series, when the St. Louis Cardinals led the series 2-games-1, their series record is 8-4; when the New York Mets trailed the series 2-games-1, their series record is 1-3 (with the sole victory occurring in series 475, when they defeated the Boston Red Sox in the 1986 World Series). The 5-runs-nil shutout of New York by St. Louis is the most lopsided best-of-7 MLB Semifinals Game 3 shutout ever, and the most lopsided best-of-7 MLB series (all rounds) Game 3 shutout since series 216 Game 3, in which, ironically enough, the New York Mets shut out the Baltimore Orioles 5-runs-nil in the third game of the 1969 World Series. With the win, the St. Louis Cardinals improve their best-of-7 MLB Semifinals series Game 3 record at home to 3-0. The MLB St. Louis Cardinals thus join the NBA Indiana Pacers, New York Knickerbockers, and Utah Jazz as MLB/NBA/NHL teams with a 3-0 best-of-7 Semifinals-round Game-3-at-home record, second only to the NBA Chicago Bulls (4-0 in best-of-7 Semifinals-round third games at home) in that category.

After Game 2: Despite trailing 3-runs-nil after one inning and 6-runs-4 after six innings, the St. Louis Cardinals scored twice in the seventh inning and thrice in the ninth inning to defeat the Mets in New York, 9-runs-6, in Game 2 of best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL playoff series 988. Series 988 is thus tied 1-game-all, with Games 3-5 to be played in St. Louis. The 15 combined runs in series 988 Game 2 are the most in a best-of-7 MLB Semifinals Game 2 since series 904 Game 2, in which the Cubs in Chicago and the visiting Florida Marlins combined for 15 runs in the Cubs' 12-runs-3 win over the Marlins in the 2003 National League Championship Series Game 2. When tied 1-game-all in a best-of-7 MLB playoff series, the New York Mets have a series record of 2-2, while the St. Louis Cardinals have a series record of 10-4 (with an active two-series losing streak, having lost series 721 to the Atlanta Braves [the 1996 National League Championship Series], and having lost series 955 to the Houston Astros [the 2005 National League Championship Series]). With the Mets' loss, MLB teams winning Game 1 of a best-of-7 MLB Semifinals series by shutout now are a less-than-stellar 0-5 in Game 2.

After Game 1: The New York Mets hosted and defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 2-runs-nil to take a 1-game-nil lead in best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL playoff series 988. When leading a best-of-7 MLB playoff series 1-game-nil, the New York Mets have a series record of 1-1, having in this situation defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in series 821 (the 2000 National League Championship Series -- déjà vu?) and lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in series 524 (the 1988 National League Championship Series). When trailing a best-of-7 MLB playoff series 1-game-nil, the St. Louis Cardinals have a series record of 7-8 with an active five-series losing streak starting with series 500 (the 1987 World Series). In the history of best-of-7 MLB Semifinals series, teams winning Game 1 by a shutout (such as the Mets) had a 1-3 series record and an 0-4 Game 2 record. Series 988 Game 1 was the thirteenth game in best-of-7 MLB playoff series history to end in a 2-runs-nil score for the home team; of those thirteen home team winners, seven (the Giants, the Yankees, the Mets) hail from New York.

Pre-series assessment: In the 2006 regular season, the New York Mets finished 13.5 games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals. From 1905 through the 2005 MLB Finals, when MLB teams such as New York led their best-of-7 playoff series opponents by 13.5 or more regular-season games, they have posted a 9-3 (.750) best-of-7 series record in those MLB Semifinals and Finals series against those opponents. The three upsets occurred in best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL playoff series 2 (the 1906 Chicago Cubs lost to the Chicago White Sox in the 1906 MLB Finals [World Series]), 101 (the 1954 Cleveland Indians lost to the New York Giants in the 1954 MLB Finals), and 845 (the 2001 Seattle Mariners lost to the New York Yankees in the 2001 MLB Semifinals [American League Championship Series]). Best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL playoff series 988 is the 24th best-of-7 playoff series for the St. Louis Cardinals, and the ninth for the New York Mets. In best-of-7 MLB playoff series, the St. Louis Cardinals have a 12-11 series record, a 3-4 Semifinals-round series record, and an 8-15 Game 1 record, while the New York Mets have a 4-4 series record, a 2-2 Semifinals-round record, and a 2-6 Game 1 record. Series 988 is the second best-of-7 MLB playoff series meeting between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets; New York won series 821 (in the 2000 MLB Semifinals) vs. St. Louis in five games.