In 2005 and 2006 the Cardinals went to the NLCS after beating the San Diego Padres in the NLDS. In back-to-back years the Cardinals eliminated the Padres on October 8.
In 2005 the 100-win Cardinals were set up to demolish the 82-win Padres and that is exaclty what they did. The Cardinals swept the Padres in three games win a run differential of 21 runs scored to 11 runs allowed. In the final game the Cardinals squared off against a familiar face in Woody Williams. The offense did immediate damage thanks to the pesky David Eckstein and the incomparable Albert Pujols.