Homegrown talent key to another NLCS

ST. LOUIS (AP) ― Changing cast, same old hit show for the St. Louis Cardinals.

In the NL Championship Series for the fourth straight year, the Cardinals used just five players from their 2011 World Series champions in the just-completed four-game Division Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sixteen players carried over from the roster in last year’s World Series loss to Boston.

“We wanted to make sure we could do this internally and have the depth to be successful and build from within,” general manager John Mozeliak said Tuesday night amid the ruckus of yet another champagne spraying celebration. “You’re seeing that pay off now.”

Fifteen of the 25 players active against the Dodgers were Cardinals’ amateur draft picks, the most among the 10 playoff teams. Along with the savings of carrying so much youth, there’s camaraderie, too, with players who came up together.

“We’ve got something special going on right now,” said leadoff man Matt Carpenter, a 13th-round selection in 2009. “Guys expect to win. It’s just real fun.”

The 23-year-old Shelby Miller made his first career postseason start in the clincher. He’s been a part of three postseason teams.

“Day in and day out, they tell us not to take it for granted,” Miller said. “This thing never gets old.”

Matt Adams, a 23rd-round pick in 2009, is in his first full season as the starting first baseman. Extra work hitting off the curveball machine paid off when he pounced on a Clayton Kershaw pitch for a go-ahead, three-run homer Tuesday.

Even the departure of three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols is helping.