Cardinals Advance to World Series
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Scott Boehm/Getty Images(ST. LOUIS) — The St. Louis Cardinals are headed back to the World Series. The Cardinals rocked Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night in Game 6 of the NLCS, 9-0, to advance to their 19th Fall Classic.
Kershaw gave up seven runs in four-plus innings of work and left in the fifth without recording an out. Michael Wacha was dominant again, giving up no runs in seven innings of work with five strikeouts.
Wacha was selected MVP of the NLCS after throwing 13 2/3 scoreless innings and beat Kershaw twice in the series.
“We have so many rookies on our team that we just try and embrace everything,” Wacha said. “Try not to take it for granted and really just take advantage of this opportunity we’re in and make a push here in the World Series.”
The Cardinals five-run inning in the fifth was capped by Carlos Beltran’s single to left which scored Wacha. Beltran had three hits and drove in two runs, while making a great catch in right field.
“It was fun just being able to watch the veteran guys trying to help the younger guys,” Beltran said, who advanced to the World Series for the first time in his 16-year career. “Being able to see the younger guys coming along and just coming here and do the job. It feels great.”
The Dodgers did all they could with an injury plagued team and will look to get back in the same position next season.
“It’s probably not the time to think about all the things where you need to improve and things like that, you’ll do that during the winter,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “It’s disappointing for all of us. Obviously, I’m really proud of my club.”
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