A disastrous two-inning start by Adam Wainwright that featured three homers and six runs seemed to spell early doom for the Cardinals’ postseason chances. Even worse, the Cardinals spent a vast majority of the game squandering more runners in scoring position than a softball beer league. After Jason Motte gave up a run in the bottom of the eighth to make the score 7-5 Nationals, it looked hopeless for the Cardinals.

But apparently the Cardinals had packed some 2011 magic in their bags for the trip to Washington. And then, with a final strike away from elimination (sound familiar?) the Cardinals struck for four instantaneous runs. The roaring crowd was silenced, the child-like stars in Nationals uniforms stunned into disbelief. Just like that, their miracle season and their major league-leading record became a footnote in history.

Sorry, kids, but experience is the 26th man on the roster for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals have defied the odds once more! Incredibly, improbably, they are headed to the National League Championship Series against the San Francisco Giants!

Can you say 12 in ’12?

Do you still believe?!?