After compiling the best regular-season record in baseball, the Phillies were beaten in the first round of the playoffs by the pesky Cardinals, who made it in via the Wild Card.

The teams exchanged victories through Game 5, when Chris Carpenter outdueled Roy Halladay in a battle of aces that resulted in a 1-0 St. Louis victory. Carpenter, who was chased after allowing four runs in the first two innings of Game 2, surrendered just three hits in the shutout victory.

Halladay finished the series with a 1-1 record and 2.25 ERA over 16 innings. Jimmy Rollins went 9-for-20 with four doubles and six runs in the series for Philadelphia.

Path to the NLDS: Philadelphia (102-60) won the NL East by 13 games; St. Louis (90-72) finished second in the NL Central and won the Wild Card 

Managers: Tony La Russa, STL; Charlie Manuel, PHI