Albert Pujols helped to preserve the Cardinals' 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth with a heads-up play to throw out Chase Utley at third base. In the bottom of the sixth, David Freese added to that lead and gave the Cards an awful lot more breathing room.
You'll recall that it was Freese who, in the fourth, knocked a two-run double to put the Cards in front. In the sixth, he batted against Roy Oswalt with two out and Matt Holliday on first. Freese launched a high and deep fly ball to straightaway center that kept chasing Shane Victorino back and back until he ran out of back. The ball landed on the grassy knoll in center field beyond the fence to boost the Cardinals' lead from one to three.
To the seventh we go, with St. Louis ahead 5-2 and in position to force a Friday Game 5. The Phillies still have time to rally, but Tony La Russa has opted to pull Edwin Jackson and go to his bullpen, so you can feel free to check back in every half-hour or so. This could be a while.