The St. Louis Cardinals are now just 1 win away from the NLCS following a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday night. That win gave them a 2-1 series lead, and they can close it out Tuesday in Game 4. Kolten Wong was the hero with the go-ahead 2-run home run in the 7th to give them the 3-1 lead.
Both starting pitchers were coming off long rests, but looked as if they hand't missed a beat for the their squads. Hyun-Jin Ryu hadn't pitched in 3 weeks due to a shoulder injury. He had thrown a few bullpen sessions, and many believed that he would be on a pitch limit of about 80. Ryu threw 6 innings on Monday, giving up just 5 hits, and striking out 4. His only blemish was a Matt Carpenter solo home run in the 3rd inning, his 3rd of the postseason.
John Lackey hadn't pitched in a couple of weeks, but that was only due to the rotation. Lackey would earn the W in this game, throwing 7 innings of 1-run ball, giving up 5 hits, and striking out 8. Hanley Ramirez knocked in the only run against Lackey, with a 2-out RBI single in the 6th.
Reliever Scott Elbert surrendered the 2-run shot to Wong in the 7th and suffered the loss in the game. The Dodgers threatened in the 9th, putting 2 on with back-to-back singles from Ramirez, and Carl Crawford. They would strand those runners at the corners, giving the Cardinals the win and the series lead. It won't be easy for St. Louis to close it out, facing Clayton Kershaw in Game 4 on Tuesday. If there is a Game 5, it will be back at Dodger Stadium against Zack Greinke on Thursday.
Both starting pitchers were coming off long rests, but looked as if they hand't missed a beat for the their squads. Hyun-Jin Ryu hadn't pitched in 3 weeks due to a shoulder injury. He had thrown a few bullpen sessions, and many believed that he would be on a pitch limit of about 80. Ryu threw 6 innings on Monday, giving up just 5 hits, and striking out 4. His only blemish was a Matt Carpenter solo home run in the 3rd inning, his 3rd of the postseason.
John Lackey hadn't pitched in a couple of weeks, but that was only due to the rotation. Lackey would earn the W in this game, throwing 7 innings of 1-run ball, giving up 5 hits, and striking out 8. Hanley Ramirez knocked in the only run against Lackey, with a 2-out RBI single in the 6th.
Reliever Scott Elbert surrendered the 2-run shot to Wong in the 7th and suffered the loss in the game. The Dodgers threatened in the 9th, putting 2 on with back-to-back singles from Ramirez, and Carl Crawford. They would strand those runners at the corners, giving the Cardinals the win and the series lead. It won't be easy for St. Louis to close it out, facing Clayton Kershaw in Game 4 on Tuesday. If there is a Game 5, it will be back at Dodger Stadium against Zack Greinke on Thursday.
