In the offseason before 2004, St. Louis made key pitching acquisitions that later proved integral in their World Series runs: resigning free agent Chris Carpenter despite not pitching the season before, and bringing in Adam Wainwright and Jason Marquis via trade. Mediocre results characterized a 23–22 start. However, Rolen, Edmonds and Pujols powered the Cardinals to a Major League-best 105 wins, earning the nickname "MV3", as they won 82 of their final 117 games (.700 winning percentage). Each one equaled or surpassed 34 home runs, 102 runs scored, 111 RBIs and a .301 batting average and ranked third, fourth and fifth in the MVP voting. Carpenter lived up to his former top-prospect billing, breaking through with 15 wins and a 3.22 ERA and the pitching staff finished second in the NL in ERA at 3.75. In the NLCS, Edmonds hit a game-winning home run against the Houston Astros. In the World Series, they met a Boston Red Sox squad fresh off four straight victories over the Yankees following an 0–3 deficit in the ALCS. A comeback in this fashion in any North American major sports leagues had previously occurred only in the NHL. Not skipping a beat, the Red Sox swept the Cardinals. Following the Cardinals' regular season success, "The Sporting News" named Jocketty to his second Executive of the Year award.