Lance Berkman back in his comfort zone with Cardinals

Phillies fans have had three months to enjoy Hunter Pence, the hard-nosed, energetic rightfielder acquired by Ruben Amaro at the trade deadline.

Cardinals leftfielder Lance Berkman had three years with him in Houston.

"His energy and his passion for the game is something that (is contagious)," said Berkman. "That infusion of newness with Hunter out there and what he can do offensively; he's a great ballplayer."

After a rough 2010 in which he hit .248, Berkman took a sip from the fountain of youth in his first season in St. Louis. He hit .301 for the Cards this season with 31 homers and 94 RBI. More importantly, as the cleanup hitter, he gave Albert Pujols protection as the Cardinals paced the National League in just about every important offensive category.

"I think we've just been really impressed at his conditioning and how his legs have stood up," said manager Tony La Russa. "That was the only thing we were worried about because (when) you have a sore leg like he did last year … He was basically hitting on one leg. That explains those stats."

Berkman hit a first-inning, three-run bomb off Roy Halladay in Game 1 and has had success against Cliff Lee in his career (5-for-13, .385). He went to the postseason three times with the Astros, along with current Phillies Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge, and was part of the Yankees club that lost to Lee's Rangers in the ALCS last year.

"Roy and Lidge are two of my all-time favorites," Berkman said. "We were in (postseason) situations like this together and that will bind you closely."

Holliday sitting again

Outfielder Matt Holliday was not in the lineup and seemed to have a regression in the hand injury that limited him to a pinch-hit appearance in Game 1. La Russa indicated he had soreness after the at-bat.

History in lesson

Ever sit in a history class as a teacher was going on and on about some Civil War general and say to yourself, "When on earth will I ever need to know this?"

The following might fall into the category, but it's still worth passing along.

The Cardinals never played the Phillies in the postseason until this year, but they did split a pair of World Series with the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1930s. And each of those series had games played on Oct. 2 in Philadelphia.

In 1930, A's Hall of Fame catcher Mickey Cochrane hit a first-inning homer in Game 2 on Oct. 2 at Shibe Park in a 6-1 win. Connie Mack's boys won that series in six games. The next year, Cards pitcher Bill Hallahan outdueled George Earnshaw for a 2-0 Cardinals win in Game 2 also at Shibe (21st & Lehigh). The Cardinals won that series in 7.

The A's teams of that era (they won the 1929 series) were the strongest baseball teams Philadelphia had ever seen until this collection of Phillies started rolling along in earnest. And if you don't believe us, ask that history teacher … as soon as he stops blathering about Ulysses S. Grant.