RetroSimba

In four seasons with the Cardinals, Jake Westbrook pitched for two National League pennant winners and a World Series champion.

Westbrook, acquired from the Indians on July 31, 2010, in a deal involving outfielder Ryan Ludwick, was 36-32 with a 4.27 ERA in regular-season games for the Cardinals.

A look at his top 5 games as a Cardinal:

1. Big win in big game

The Cardinals’ hitting heroics in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series might have gone for naught if it weren’t for the scoreless inning pitched by Westbrook.

After St. Louis scored twice in the 10th to tie the score at 9-9, Westbrook relieved closer Jason Motte and pitched a scoreless 11th against the Rangers. He got Nelson Cruz to fly out before Mike Napoli singled. Westbrook then retired David Murphy on a flyball and Esteban German on a groundout.

When David Freese followed with a game-winning home run leading off the bottom of the 11th, giving St. Louis a 10-9 victory, Westbrook got a World Series win. Boxscore

2. Rough on Reds

In the Cardinals’ 10-0 victory over the Reds on April 10, 2013, Westbrook pitched his only shutout as a Cardinal and his first since 2006 with the Indians.

Westbrook got 17 outs on ground balls and he held the Reds hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position. Boxscore

“The ball was in the zone and really moving a lot,” Westbrook said to the Associated Press.

3. Surprise slugger

A career .130 hitter, Westbrook hit his only big-league home run, a grand slam off Randy Wolf, and earned the win in the Cardinals’ 8-3 victory over the Brewers on Aug. 31, 2011. Boxscore

“It’s pretty special … I’m still not that great of a hitter,” Westbrook said to the Associated Press.

4. Tiger tamer

In his first complete game for St. Louis, Westbrook held sluggers Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder hitless and finished with a five-hitter in the Cardinals’ 3-1 triumph over the Tigers on June 20, 2012. Westbrook induced 15 ground ball outs with his sinker. Boxscore

5. Helping the cause

In September 2011, the Cardinals’ only realistic chance to qualify for postseason play was to overcome the Braves and secure the lone wild-card spot in the National League.

Westbrook enabled the Cardinals to complete a critical three-game sweep of the Braves by outdueling Tim Hudson and getting the win in a 6-3 St. Louis victory on Sept. 11, 2011.

Entering the game with a 4.65 ERA, Westbrook held the Braves scoreless for five innings and retired the first seven batters before yielding a hit. Boxscore

Inspired by the sweep, the Cardinals went on to catch the Braves, earn the wild-card spot and begin their postseason push to a World Series title.

Previously: Cardinals pitchers enjoy grand slam streak