Brewers, Cards set up NL showdown in baseball playoffs

Milwaukee edged Arizona 3-2 in 10 innings and St. Louis prevailed 1-0 over favored Philadelphia as the Brewers and Cardinals advanced to the second round of the Major League Baseball playoffs. Milwaukee's Nyjer Morgan produced an RBI single in the 10th inning to lift the Brewers to the victory, his ground ball up the middle eluding Diamondbacks closing pitcher J.J. Putz. Carlos Gomez, who had singled and stolen second, raced across home plate to score the winning run as a desperation throw to home went high, and Milwaukee players flooded onto the field to celebrate a three-games-to-two triumph in the best-of-five National League first-round series. In Philadelphia, Cardinals ace pitcher Chris Carpenter surrendered just three hits to get the better of his old friend Roy Halladay in a classic pitchers' duel. The Cardinals, who did not secure their wild card berth until the final night of the regular season, scored the only run of the contest in the first inning as they, too, won their series three-games-to-two. Rafael Furcal led off with a triple and scored when Skip Schumaker followed with a double. The Phillies were never able to break through against Carpenter, and slugger Ryan Howard grounded out to end the game. Howard never had a chance to reach first, limping out of the batter's box and falling to the ground with an injury as the Cardinals celebrated. St. Louis will travel to Milwaukee on Sunday for game one of the best-of-seven National League Championship Series. The winners will face the American League champs in the World Series. Morgan, who has won over many Milwaukee fans since his arrival this year with an out-sized personality that in the past has rubbed some the wrong way, admitted his pivotal role in the Brewers' win was an emotional moment. "It's a lot, man," Morgan said. "I just wanted to show them that I can play this game, even though I have a fun, bubbly personality. I still come to win, and I'm a winner." Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said that he never doubted it. "He's a joy to have, I'll tell you," Roenicke said of Morgan. "I don't care about all the little issues we have. This guy, I love him on this team. I like him as a really nice young man. He came through big, again, when we needed him." Arizona's Willie Bloomquist had driven in the tying run in the ninth inning as the Diamondbacks battled to extend their season. Arizona's determination pushed them to some stellar play, including center fielder Chris Young's spectacular warning-track catch in the sixth inning. The Diamondbacks loaded the bases against relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez in the eighth inning, but Rodriguez induced Ryan Roberts to ground into a force out at second base to end the danger. After struggling in the ninth inning, Brewers closing pitcher John Axford retired the side in order in the 10th.