David Freese scored on Jon Jay’s sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers and a two-game lead in Major League Baseball’s National League Championship Series.
Michael Wacha (1-0) allowed five hits and struck out eight, including Yasiel Puig and Juan Uribe in the sixth inning with the bases loaded.
“I was lucky enough to get some strikeouts to hold the lead,” the 22-year-old pitcher said in a televised interview.
The Boston Red Sox host the Detroit Tigers tonight in the opening game of the best-of-seven American League Championship series.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw reached first on a single to left in the sixth inning and then went to second on Carl Crawford’s infield single. Both runners advanced on a throwing error by second baseman Matt Carpenter. After Mark Ellis popped out to second, Wacha intentionally walked Adrian Gonzalez to load the bases before striking out Puig and Uribe to end the inning.
Wacha was relieved after 6 2/3rd innings.
“It was pretty intense in there,” Wacha said. “Our bullpen is clutch. I knew I was in good hands.”
Kershaw (0-1) went six innings, surrendering one run on two hits and striking out five.
“You have to give those guys credit,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “Their guy threw the ball good. We had a couple of chances -- bases loaded -- and couldn’t capitalize on them.”
The Cardinals were coming off last night’s 13-inning 3-2 victory that ended half past midnight at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
Game 3 is scheduled in Los Angeles on Oct. 14.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Nancy Kercheval at [email protected]
Michael Wacha (1-0) allowed five hits and struck out eight, including Yasiel Puig and Juan Uribe in the sixth inning with the bases loaded.
“I was lucky enough to get some strikeouts to hold the lead,” the 22-year-old pitcher said in a televised interview.
The Boston Red Sox host the Detroit Tigers tonight in the opening game of the best-of-seven American League Championship series.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw reached first on a single to left in the sixth inning and then went to second on Carl Crawford’s infield single. Both runners advanced on a throwing error by second baseman Matt Carpenter. After Mark Ellis popped out to second, Wacha intentionally walked Adrian Gonzalez to load the bases before striking out Puig and Uribe to end the inning.
Wacha was relieved after 6 2/3rd innings.
“It was pretty intense in there,” Wacha said. “Our bullpen is clutch. I knew I was in good hands.”
Kershaw (0-1) went six innings, surrendering one run on two hits and striking out five.
“You have to give those guys credit,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “Their guy threw the ball good. We had a couple of chances -- bases loaded -- and couldn’t capitalize on them.”
The Cardinals were coming off last night’s 13-inning 3-2 victory that ended half past midnight at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
Game 3 is scheduled in Los Angeles on Oct. 14.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Nancy Kercheval at [email protected]