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(SportsNetwork.com) - With the way the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates battled for the National League Central crown, its only fitting that their National League Division Series would come down to a decisive fifth game. St. Louis tries to get back into the NLCS for the third straight year, while the Pirates target their first postseason series win since 1979, as the divisional foes play a winner take all showdown at Busch Stadium. "You live for those situations," Pittsburgh star Andrew McCutchen said. "This is the game that we play. They didnt say it was going to be easy getting here to where we are. Weve done a good job of getting in this position. We live for all those moments. Anything can happen in this game." On Wednesday, though, the Cards turn to their ace in Adam Wainwright, who tied for the NL lead with 19 wins and was marvelous in his Game 1 start versus the Pirates, as he allowed just one run and struck out nine in seven innings. "Were always excited to see Adam Wainwright on the mound," Cards manager Mike Matheny said after the Cardinals 2-1 win over the Pirates in Game 4 on Monday. "Hes the ace of our staff. These guys, they get a lot of energy every time he has the mound." Wainwright has won his last five decisions, posting a 1.71 ERA (eight earned runs in 42 innings) over that stretch. Hes also 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA in three postseason starts (seven appearances) in St. Louis. "Its the biggest game of the year, isnt it? Thats what I always tell these guys," Wainwright said. "Every start of mine is the biggest game of the year. Its a big-time game against a good opponent, and Im looking forward to doing it." While it may have been a no-brainer that Wainwright would be taking the hill for St. Louis, Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle had a decision to make. He could have gone with Game 1 starter A.J. Burnett, who was pounded for seven runs in two-plus innings, or turn to rookie Gerrit Cole, who gave up one run in six innings to win Game 2. In the end, it wasnt really a choice, as Hurdle went with the 23-year-old righty Cole. "We have one game to win," said Hurdle. "As Ive done and Ive challenged the guys to do, we need to do the best we can to win that next game. I believe that matchup is the best we can do to beat the Cardinals in Game 5." Cole was as good as any pitcher in baseball down the stretch, going 4-0 over his final five starts, while pitching to a 1.69 ERA. He carried that into the postseason and was more than effective versus the Cardinals on Friday, retiring 11 in a row at one point. "Its obviously a great opportunity for me to go out there and give my team a chance to win," Cole said. "This is obviously an exciting time, a high- pressure situation, and this is what you prepare for all year. This is why you work out in the offseason, for moments like this, to be mentally and physically ready to go. Its extremely exciting and I cant wait." The Pirates can only hope that Cole delivers the way St. Louis rookie Michael Wacha did in Game 4, as he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and helped the Cards stave off elimination. "We did a lot of gushing about him before we even got him out there today, and I think everybody sees why," Matheny said. "I dont know if you can put a kid in a tougher spot. He came out and just made pitches all day long. Hes just got a knack of getting up there and [being] very business-like getting the job done." The Cardinals, who received an MLB-best 36 victories from rookie hurlers en route to the NL Central title, are now 7-1 in postseason elimination games over the past three years. "I think you take high-talent and high-character people that are motivated and support each other, and they dont give up. Thats a tough combination," said Matheny of his team. "Its just an honor to watch them do the thing day-in and day-out." St. Louis survived despite managing just three hits, but one was a two-run homer from Matt Holliday off Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton that broke a scoreless deadlock in the top of the sixth. Holliday had a single earlier in the contest. Morton (0-1) lasted 5 2/3 innings, surrendering all three hits and walking four. "Charlie pitched extremely well," Hurdle said. "I think the cowboys say, he drew a tough bull today." Pedro Alvarez homered in Mondays loss and is the first Pirate to drive in runs his first five postseason games, and the first since Willie Stargell in 1979 to hit at least three homers in one postseason. Since the beginning of the 2012 season and including these playoffs, Alvarez has crushed Cardinals pitching to the tune of 12 homers and 37 RBI. Pittsburgh won the season series, 10-9, but was just 3-6 in St. Louis. "Weve played them close," Hurdle said. "It has been a very respectful, challenged series." Wednesdays winner will play Los Angeles on Friday in Game 1 of the NLCS. Authentic Atlanta Falcons Jerseys . Starting from pole, the 26-year-old Vettel turned in a trademark clinical performance to win the Indian Grand Prix on Sunday and join F1 greats Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher as just the third driver to win four consecutive championships. Custom Falcons Jerseys .com) - Damian Lillard poured in 40 points on 11-of-21 shooting to go along with 11 assists, and the Portland Trail Blazers stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder, 115-111, in overtime on Tuesday. http://www.cheapfalcons.com/ . Pistorius denied the allegation that he said to the close friend of the girlfriend he killed: "How can you sleep at night?" The accusation by Kim Myers provided a bizarre twist during the trial of the world-famous double-amputee Olympian, who is facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated murder for shooting dead Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, at his home last year. Atlanta Falcons Kendall Sheffield Jersey . But this time, the Gunners weathered the storm. Arsene Wengers team was on the ropes in the early stages of a lively FA Cup tie, until Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored a goal against the run of the play. Cheap Atlanta Falcons Gear . 1. Lions WR Calvin Johnson (6 REC, 101 YDS, 1 TD, 10 targets) leads receivers with 1,299 yards and 12 touchdowns, though his 118.1 receiving yards per game ranks second behind Clevelands Josh Gordon. Gordon (10 REC, 261 YDS, 2 TD, 15 targets) is emerging as a superstar, putting up huge numbers even with Jason Campbell and Brandon Weeden at quarterback.Arsenal, West Ham and Aston Villa redressed the balance for Premier League teams after a flow of upsets in the FA Cup, securing narrow wins over awkward lower-league opposition to advance to the fifth round on Sunday.Chelsea and Manchester City were among five teams in the Premier Leagues top nine to be eliminated on Saturday on one of the most astonishing days in the famous competitions 144-year history.The underdogs couldnt continue the shocks a day later, with Arsenal beating second-tier Brighton 3-2 after being set on its way by early goals from Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil. Tomas Rosicky was the other scorer for Arsenal, which is looking to retain the trophy and, as the fifth-place team in the top flight, is the highest-ranked side guaranteed a spot in the last 16.Senegal striker Diafra Sakho came off the bench and scored an 81st-minute header to earn West Ham a 1-0 victory at Bristol City, which is second in English footballs third tier.Villa had the toughest assignment against second-tier leader Bournemouth but came through with a 2-1 home win, with new signing Carles Gil — with his first goal since moving from Valencia — and Andreas Weimann scoring for the Premier League side.The FA Cup was thrown wide open after Saturdays remarkable events, when Premier League leader Chelsea squandered a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to third-tier Bradford and English champion Man City was beaten 2-0 by second-tier Middlesbrough. The fourth-round surprises began Friday, with Manchester United held to a 0-0 draw by fourth-tier Cambridge.Any sense of another upset at Brightons Amex Stadium was snuffed out by the 24th minute, by which time Arsenal had sped into a 2-0 lead.Walcott put Arsenal ahead in the second minute when he controlled a cross and drilled a low finish under the goalkeeper. Ozil, making his first start ssince October because of injury, then was found by a probing pass from Rosicky and placed a low finish into the corner.ddddddddddddhe results from yesterday maybe got us on our toes and we got off to a quick pace, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, and I think that surprised Brighton.Sloppy defending allowed Brighton to reduce the deficit through Chris OGrady in the 50th but Rosicky restored Arsenals two-goal lead by volleying in from the edge of the area. Sam Baldock lifted a neat finish over Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in the 75th to set up a tense finish.As defending champions it is our cup at the moment, Walcott said. All those teams going out means it is a massive opportunity.West Ham toiled in the first half at Ashton Gate, clearing two headed attempts off the line, but improved after the break. Sakho, who entered as a 57th-minute substitute, struck the bar with a fierce shot before meeting Andy Carrolls cross with a far-post header from close range.With Villa struggling in the Premier League and Bournemouth flying in the League Championship, their matchup had all the ingredients of another cup upset and the visitors had Villa at full stretch for much of the game.However, Villa was clinical in front of goal, surprisingly given it is the lowest-scoring team in all four divisions in England, and Gil broke the deadlock by finding the top corner from 25 metres in the 51st.Weimanns steered home Alan Huttons cross to make it 2-0 in the 71st before Callum Wilsons injury-time response for Bournemouth.After seeing yesterdays results, we had nothing to gain, Villa manager Paul Lambert said. All credit to the team.It completed a positive day for Villa, with the club announcing that star midfielder Fabian Delph has signed a new 4 1/2-year contract.The draw for the fifth round is on Monday. 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