OH CRUEL FATE!!!!!

Brad Lidge was ONE STRIKE away from delivering the Astros to their first World Series ever. One strike. He allows a single to David Eckstein. Still one out away. Then he walks Jim Edmonds. Getting a little nervous now, I mean, let's face it, Albert Pujols is up next.

And what does he do?

HITS A FREAKIN' 3-RUN HOMER TO GIVE THE CARDS A 5-4 LEAD. Can they hang on? You hope for Lidge's sake they don't, but what an NLCS this could yet become.

Updated 10:49 -- Cards close it out. Don't bring down Busch just yet.