NLDS 2013: Cardinals beat Pirates in 5 games, advance to NLCS

Cards advance, in GIF form

Luck appeared to be on the side of the Cardinals on Wednesday. Just for good measure, they added some power, too.

Party's over for Pirates

Cardinals advance to NLCS

The Cardinals will play in their third consecutive NLCS as a result of a couple of long balls, Adam Wainwright's second dominant outing of the series, and some opportunistic defense.

Pirates doubled up again

The Pirates keep hitting line drives at the wrong guy.

Alvarez bounces single into RF for 1st Bucs run

Pedro Alvarez has been an RBI machine for the Pirates, and that continued in the seventh inning on Wednesday.

Cards add a run in the 6th

The Cardinals are three innings away from advancing to the NLCS to face the Dodgers.

Cards still up, 2-0

After surrendering a home run to David Freese, Gerrit Cole was rescued by good defense then betrayed by bad defense then rescued again. Basically, it's still a two-run game.

Marte makes excellent diving grab

Matt Carpenter can't buy a hit.

Cards jump out to 2-0 lead

Oh hello, David Freese.

Carpenter turns two

The Pirates got their first hit in Game 5 much earlier than they did in the previous game, but it mattered not. Thanks, Matt Carpenter.

Pirates vs. Cards Game 5 lineups

Wainwright and Cole will take the mound for their teams.

Pirates vs. Cardinals, 2013 NLDS Game 5

It will be rookie versus veteran as Gerrit Cole goes head-to-head with Adam Wainwright for the chance to play in the NL Championship Series.

NLDS 2013: Gerrit Cole to start Game 5 for Pirates

Cole gets the start over veteran A.J. Burnett, who struggled in Game 1 of the NLDS.

Cardinals vs. Pirates final score: Cards win 2-1

Michael Wacha carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, helping St. Louis avoid elimination and force a Game 5.

Cardinals vs Pirates score: 2-1, Wacha loses no-no

Pedro Alvarez homered to break up Michael Wacha's no-hitter, but St. Louis still leads 2-1 after eight innings.

Cards' Michael Wacha with no-hitter through 7

The rookie flirts with perfection in a postseason game against the Pirates

Cardinals vs. Pirates score: 0-0, Wacha perfect

Michael Wacha has been perfect through four innings, and Charlie Morton is also dealing. Both teams are scoreless thus far.

Cardinals vs Pirates: NLDS Game 4 starting lineups

Mike Matheny shuffled his lineup around, trying to spark the Cardinals offense against Charlie Morton.

Cards vs. Pirates: Time, TV Schedule, and pitchers

Charlie Morton will look to wrap up the NLDS for the Pirates in front of their home fans, while Michael Wacha hopes to send the teams back to St. Louis.

Pirates' 8th-inning rally leads to 5-3 win

Pittsburgh overcame a three-RBI game from Carlos Beltran to earn its second win of the NLDS.

Beltran homer ties NLDS Game 3 at 3-3

Beltran has hit two homers in this series and 16 in his post-season career.

Pirates regain lead on Martin sac fly

The Pirates enter the top of the seventh with a one-run advantage over the Cardinals.

Beltran ties game at 2-2 with RBI single

Beltran picked up another clutch hit in the playoffs with a two-out, RBI single.

Pirates maintain 2-0 lead over Cardinals through 4

The Cardinals loaded the bases in the top of the third inning, but could not plate any runners.

Matt Adams turns an inning-ending double-play

Joe Kelly gets some help from his first baseman to escape the bottom of the third.