NLDS: Cardinals defeat Dodgers, lead series 2-1
The St. Louis Cardinals kept their recent postseason surge going in game three of the National League Division Series on Tuesday at Busch Stadium. The Redbirds defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers by the score of 3-1 and now lead the series two games to one.
The Cardinals had 11 hits in the game, six off of Dodger’s starter Hyun-jin Ryu. Ryu went six innings and allowed just one earned run on a homer by Matt Carpenter in the third inning.
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It was Carpenter’s third long ball of the NLDS. He’s homered in three consecutive games to start the postseason, putting him on a short list of players that inlcudes names like Hank Aaron and Bengie Molina.
The only other Cardinal to accomplish the feat? Albert Pujols in 2004. Carpenter went deep just eight during the 2014 regular season so this offensive outburst has been somewhat of a surprise for St. Louis.
It was Ryu’s first start since a shoulder injury shut him down in early September. Dodgers’ manager Don Mattingly said of Ryu’s start,
"“Pretty amazing, a guy can be off that long and be that sharp. He settled down and went farther than we thought.”"
Cardinals’ starter John Lackey pitched through the seventh allowing a run in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI double off the bat of Hanley Ramirez. Lackey gave up five of the Dodgers seven hits while striking out eight batters.
"“Well, we just kind of knew what we were going to get,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “He wants the ball. He proves it by how he goes out and throws.”"
Kolten Wong went deep off of Brian Wilson for two runs in the bottom of the seventh scoring Yadier Molina from third.
The Dodgers got their remaining two hits off of closer Trevor Rosenthal who managed to get his second save after a rocky start on the rainy night.
The grounds crew had to come out, apply a drying agent and rake the mound after Rosenthal threw a couple of very off the mark balls to Juan Uribe.
Rosenthal retired the next two batters and recorded the sixth postseason save of his career.