Cardinals vs. Dodgers final score: Los Angeles draws closer in NLCS with 3-0 win
By Bryan Rose
The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t exactly seem to have a lot going their way coming into Game 3 of their NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Not only were they facing an 0-2 series deficit, they were potentially going to be without two of their biggest offensive weapons and on the mound opposing them was 19-game-winner, Adam Wainwright. On paper, things didn’t look so hot.
But looking deeper, the Dodgers had fared well against Wainwright in the past, especially at Dodger Stadium where Wainwright held a career ERA over 5.00. On top of that, both Andre Ethier and Hanley Ramirez, who were game time decisions did indeed find themselves in the starting lineup and helped Los Angeles get back into the series thanks to a 3-0 win.
Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu was absolutely woeful in his lone postseason start in the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, but tonight was spectacular, tossing seven innings of three-hit ball. It wasn’t exactly a dominating performance, at least in terms of stuff, but it was extremely effective as the Cardinals (who have struggled against left handed pitching all season) were consistently off balance.
For the Cardinals, Adam Wainwright looked his always solid self, though a two-run fourth inning was his undoing as an Adrian Gonzalez double down the right field line scored Mark Ellis, who was on second base. Moments later, rookie phenom Yasiel Puig hit a screaming drive to right field, scoring Gonzalez, giving Los Angeles their two-run lead.
It was more than enough for Ryu and the back-end of the Dodgers’ bullpen who were given an extra run of insurance in the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to a Hanley Ramirez bloop which scored Carl Crawford.
The series will continue Tuesday evening as Los Angeles attempts to tie the NLCS and 2-2 while St. Louis will try and head into a Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead.