One strike away from the World Series...

At the top of the ninth inning, the home team Astros were ahead 3 to 2. Two outs already taken care of, two strikes against the batter, David Eckstein, and Brad Lidge, the best closer in all of baseball this year, can't get that last strike. It would have clinched the Astros first ever trip to the World Series and done it on the day the team was founded 45 years ago.

Instead Eckstein gets on base, Lidge walks Edmonds and then gives Albert Pujols a fat pitch down the middle. If the roof had been open the ball would have been a couple of blocks away.

So now the team is in the same boat as this time last year. Up 3 games to 2 but headed for St. Louis where they have very few wins.

The optimism is gone from the fans. Everybody felt good about the team's chances last night. Winning it at an away game just doesn't seem as likely. We'll know in a few days.