NLDS Game 3, Dodgers vs Cardinals final score: Kolten Wong delivers, Cardinals win 3-1
By Hayden Kane
1. 71. Final. 3. 33
Kolten Wong delivered a go-ahead home run as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers by a final score of 3-1 and took a 2-1 series lead.
St. Louis Cardinals’ second baseman Kolten Wong will be known for two things when it comes to his heroics in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers: that home run and that bat flip.
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Wong came up to bat in the bottom of the 7th inning in a tie game with Yadier Molina on base. He got a pitch he could handle from pitcher Scott Elbert, he deposited it over the fence and into the bullpen, and he celebrated accordingly.
There was a bat flip. There was yelling. There were arms raised in the dugout. There was much rejoicing. The Cardinals took a 3-1 lead that would hold up as the final score.
Prior to this home run, Matt Carpenter hit yet another home run to score the other run for the Cardinals. That’s three home runs in three games. That’s really good, in case you’re keeping track at home.
Hyun-jin Ryu pitched well for the Dodgers, giving up just that one earned run to Carpenter in six innings of work. He was out-dueled by John Lackey, however, as the veteran righty went 7.0 innings for the Cardinals, struck out eight and allowed just one run himself to earn the win. Trevor Rosenthal allowed some traffic in the 9th inning but notched the save.
The Dodgers are suffering from a less exaggerated version of the same problem that ended the season for the Detroit Tigers: their bullpen is killing them.
JP Howell has had a terrible go of things this postseason, so tonight the Dodgers turned to Elbert. He flopped too, allowing the home run to Wong. Don Mattingly cannot trust any reliever besides closer Kenley Jansen, and it might cost the Dodgers their season.
For Wong, this is a story of redemption. Last time he played in the playoffs on a national stage he was picked off first base to end Game 4 of the 2013 World Series. One can only imagine the emotions of a winning home run after having to live with that for a year.
You would probably flip your bat too.
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