Cardinals Rally, Beat Kershaw in Game 1
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Elsa/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — In a matchup that featured two of the top pitchers in the game, the St. Louis Cardinals won a 10-9 game over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game One of the National League Divisional Series (NLDS) on Friday night. The Cardinals scored eight runs in the seventh inning to come from behind against Clayton Kershaw before holding off the Dodgers late.
It started out as a blowout in favor of Los Angeles, as they built up a 6-1 lead through five innings. After Randal Grichuk homered in the first to give St. Louis a 1-0 lead, the Dodgers quickly took the lead scoring twice in the third. Two more runs were added in the fourth before A.J. Ellis launched a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth off Adam Wainwright.
Meanwhile, Kershaw was mowing down opponents striking out eight batters through six innings. The southpaw had only given up two hits, both solo home runs, going into the seventh inning. It was then that the Cardinals made their rally.
The first four batters of the inning would reach on Kershaw, culminating on a Matt Adams RBI single. Pete Kozma then struck out for the first out of the frame before John Jay singled in another run to make it a 6-4 deficit. After another strikeout got the Dodgers within an out of ending the inning, Matt Carpenter cleared the bases with a double, giving St. Louis a 7-6 lead and chasing Kershaw.
The Cardinals would go on to score three more runs when Matt Holliday homered off reliever Pedro Baez for a 10-6 lead. Los Angeles threatened to take the lead back in both the eighth and ninth innings. Adrian Gonzalez’s two-run homer in the eighth made it a 10-8 ballgame, while an RBI ground out got the Dodgers within a run and put the tying score at third. However, Yasiel Puig struck out to end the ballgame and give St. Louis a 1-0 series lead.
Game Two of the NLDS is set for 9:30 p.m. on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Lance Lynn (15-10, 2.74 ERA) gets the call for the Cardinals while the Dodgers send Zack Greinke (17-8, 2.71 ERA) to the hill.
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