Six weeks ago, who knew it would come to this?

Jason Motte saved nine games for the St. Louis Cardinals during the regular season, and the first of those didn't come until late August. Finally, though, Jason Motte seems to have gained Tony La Russa's trust. He pitched well as the Cardinals' closer in September, and in October he's been almost perfect.

Before Game 3 of the NLCS Tuesday night, he'd pitched in four postseason games and given up one hit, a measly single. Motte saved Game 2 of the Division Series by recording four outs, and it looks an awful lot like La Russa's going to ask for a repeat performance tonight.

Motte is one-fourth of the way there, after striking out Rickie Weeks to end the top of the eighth.

In the top of the ninth, he'll face the bottom of the Milwaukee lineup. So you gotta like his chances to preserve the Cardinals' one-run lead and give St. Louis a 2-1 edge in this series.

After 8½ innings, it's still Cardinals 4, Brewers 3.