SAN DIEGO (KMOX) - The St. Louis Cardinals play Game 2 of their three-game series against the San Diego Padres on Thursday. It's a special place for the game's starting pitcher Adam Wainwright.
Fourteen years ago the then 25-year-old Wainwright pitched in his first playoff game at San Deigo, closing out a 5-1 victory in the 2006 NLDS. There's a chance this is his last career postseason start – but hopefully not.
And Thursday is even more special for Waino and Cardinals fans because the same man who was his catcher in 2005 will catch him again tonight.
As Yadier Molina and Wainwright represent the St. Louis battery for the 14th time in postseason history, we look back as some photos of their historic playoff careers together:
Game 2 of the NLCS in 2006
(Getty Images)They return to the city and ballpark where the Cardinals began their 2006 run to a World Series title. Wainright was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 3 games vs. the Padres. Molina caught all 4 games of that series, going 4-13 (.308) with an RBI.
Game 6 of the World Series in 2006
(Getty Images)With today's start Wainwright has now appeared in eight postseasons, surpassing Albert Pujols (7) for 2nd in franchise postseason history. Molina ranks 1st with 11 postseasons
Game 6 of the World Series in 2006
(Getty Images)Molina passed Albert Pujols (26) for most multi-hit games in Cardinals history and ranks 5th-most all-time in postseason history with 27.
Game 2 of the NLDS in 2009
(Getty Images)Wainwright has pitched in five postseason clinching games in his career (3 in relief in 2006), and most recently a CG 1-run win against Pittsburgh (October 9, 2013 in St. Louis).
Game 1 of the NLDS in 2012
(Getty Images)They have been a starting battery for 274 regular games; 6th-most all-time in MLB history (since 1908)
Game 5 of the NLDS in 2013
(Getty Images)Today is Wainwright & Molina's 14th postseason start together, tying Giants' Madison Bumgarner & Buster Posey, Yankees' Orlando Hernandez & Jorge Posada, and Cleveland's Charles Nagy & Sandy Alomar Jr. for 6th-most in MLB postseason history
