For game 2 of the season we'll look at quite possibly the most famous double play in Astros history.
Try to watch this only once. Can't do it can you.
There's so much to look at in the play: Lance Berkman out of position, Brad Lidge squatting (probably praying), Eric Bruntlett's quick throw, Adam Everett's quick turn, Lance Berkman's flailing expression as the umpire calls John Mabry out and Everett and Bruntlett's high five. It's a thing of beauty.
This play was before Albert Pujols took Brad Lidge deep in game five, and two games before Roy Oswalt dominated the St. Louis Cardinals for a bulldozer and a trip to World Series.
In the 2004 NLCS Game 4, The Astros were leading 2-1 heading into the ninth curtsy of a Jason Lane homerun and a Morgan Ensberg sacrifice fly that scored Willy Taveras, Pujols would single to start the inning against the man known as Lights Out Lidge. Larry Walker followed with a single to right field, allowing Pujols to go first to third. Reggie Sanders would ground into a force out at third; Ensberg threw home to get Pujols out at the plate. Walker would make it all the way to third on the force out, setting up the play.
The play loses significance if there isn't a runner on third; without that runner on third there's not a chance the Astros tie the game.
The announcers thought the game was tied, I thought the game was tied, you may of even thought the game was tied. Heck, the players may of thought the game was tied, in fact I'm pretty sure Everett was quoted as saying he wasn't expecting the throw. Thankfully, Bruntlett who had replaced the great Craig Biggio as a defensive replacement knew better.