Munro Studies Lima’s Approach

Those who long for more “Lima Time” will be pleased to know the phenomenon has, in some small way, carried over into the National League championship series.

Pete Munro, a journeyman who like Jose Lima relies on location instead of an overpowering fastball, has been studying tape of the Dodger pitcher’s masterful five-hit shutout of the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the NL division series.

Munro and the Houston Astros face Matt Morris and the Cardinals in Game 2 of the NL championship series tonight at Busch Stadium.

“I guess me and Jose kind of have similarities in the way that we pitch and our stuff, the way he changes speeds and has to locate,” Munro said. “So we are looking at some tapes, and Lima is on one of them.”

Munro will be making his first start of the postseason, quite an achievement considering he spent the early portion of the season with the Minnesota Twins’ triple-A affiliate in Rochester, N.Y.

Eventually, the right-hander decided to activate a clause in his contract in which he could ask for his release if he believed he would have a better opportunity elsewhere.

Houston General Manager Gerry Hunsicker called Munro’s agent in early June to ask whether Munro could join the Astros for a weekend series in St. Louis.

Munro, expecting to be used as a long reliever or a spot starter, soon was thrust into the rotation when injuries sidelined Andy Pettitte and Wade Miller.

“What I draw on is I believe in what I’ve been through,” said Munro, who was 4-7 with a 5.15 earned-run average. “The journey that I’ve been through in this game, being released and traded a couple of times and, you know, just keep on having to prove myself.

“I think this is just another step in the railroad. It’s been a good journey, but I don’t think it’s over yet.”

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Morris said he would be willing to shake hands with the Astros at the conclusion of the series, as the Dodgers and Cardinals did after the NL division series, on one condition.

“I think it depends on who wins,” he joked, before turning serious. “We should all be congratulated for a great season, win or lose, both teams.”

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St. Louis officials, highly regarded for their sensitivity after Cardinal pitcher Darryl Kile’s and broadcaster Jack Buck’s deaths in 2002, requested a moment of silence before Game 1 to honor former Astro Ken Caminiti, who died Sunday of a heart attack. Atlanta did not honor Caminiti before Game 5 of the NL division series Monday at Turner Field.... Before his two-run home run in the first inning Wednesday, Carlos Beltran was batting .091 against St. Louis pitcher Woody Williams, and had struck out five times in 11 at-bats.