ST. LOUIS — They are one win from their second straight trip to the World Series and could be the first National League team to win back-to-back World Series since the Cincinnati Reds in 1975-76.

“I don’t think we’ve really thought about that,” said ace Chris Carpenter following an 8-3 win over the Giants Thursday night that gave the Cardinals a commanding 3-1 lead in the National League Championship Series. “We have to take care of business. The Giants are capable of winning three straight games. They did it against Cincinnati [in the Division Series] to get here, so we can’t let our guard down.”