Michael Wacha dominates to push Cardinals into World Series

Minutes later, the Cardinals held their de rigueur champagne celebration in their clubhouse, a ritual that has become familiar for their veterans. Adam

The Cardinals will be looking for the 12th World Series title in franchise history :: David E. Klutho/SI

Minutes later, the Cardinals held their de rigueur champagne celebration in their clubhouse, a ritual that has become familiar for their veterans. Adam Wainwright momentarily extricated himself from the mass -- "I've got to get out of the line of fire," he said -- before thinking better of it and rejoining the fray. The first song that blared out of the clubhouse's speakers was the deejay Avicii's current hit, "Wake Me Up," with its theme of youthful insouciance: "They tell me I'm too young to understand / They say I'm caught up in a dream," the vocalist intones. Michael Wacha, standing tall in the midst of his similarly celebrating teammates, was living a dream, but it was one firmly based in the reality of his own skills, his own stuff, his own poise. His win on Friday not only sent the Cardinals to the World Series, but ensured Wainwright will be able to start Wednesday's Game 1 -- and that Wacha will be waiting, after five days' rest, in Thursday's Game 2. Neither the Tigers nor the Red Sox have ever before seen Wacha throw a live pitch. That might be the least of their concerns.