subject: Los Angeles Dodgers Playoff Tickets - Dodgers Defeat Cardinals 5-3 [print this page] The Los Angeles Dodgers were able to score early against St. Louis ace Chris Carpenter, and then their bullpen took over and shut the Cardinals down. Randy Wolf got the call for the Dodgers and survived a shaky first inning before five relievers combined allowed one run in Los Angeles' 5-3 triumph over the Cards.
Get Los Angeles Dodgers playoff tickets and see Wolf throw a fastball. St. Louis right fielder Ryan Ludwick stated that a lot of people believe the Dodgers have one of the best bullpens in baseball. He continued to say that Los Angeles "shut the door" on St. Louis. Wolf, who pitched for the first time in the postseason, lasted 3 2/3 innings against Carpenter. In the first inning, Matt Kemp hit a two-run homer off Carpenter, which gave Los Angeles the lead for good.
Kemp acknowledged that the Dodgers did not play well against Carpenter during the regular season, but said his team came with their confidence. Wolf was the Dodgers' most consistent starter this season, with a 2.98 ERA in the second half and lost just one game since August 1. The left-hander gave up two runs and six hits, walked five and struck out two. Relief pitcher Jeff Weaver took over the mound after Wolf retired for the night. He allowed one hit in 1 1/3 innings and struck out one. Los Angeles' Jonathan Broxton pitched 1 1/3 innings to earn the save. Weaver was delighted to beat Carpenter. The right-hander said it was huge to defeat the Cards, especially at home against a sharp pitcher like Carpenter, a guy who can shut things down.
Both teams set a division series record by stranding a combined 30 runners. The Dodgers left 16 runners on, including 12 in scoring positions. St. Louis third baseman Mark DeRosa admitted that his team had "too many chances" to win the game, but recognized that the Cards did not get the big hit they desperately needed. Carpenter, who was the NL's ERA leader, allowed four runs and nine hits in five innings. He went 2-0 against the Dodger this season. The right-hander walked four and struck out three. Carpenter said he did not make many good pitches and the Dodgers capitalized on the ace pitchers' mistakes. The right-hander explained that he either threw right down the middle or out of the strike zone and that won't get the job done.
In the ninth inning, the Cards reduced their deficit to 5-3, getting a two-out RBI double from DeRosa. After that, Broxton struck out Rick Ankiel looking to end it. Los Angeles made it 3-1 in the third when Andre Ethier was struck by a pitch, moved up on a walk to Manny Ramirez and took third on James Loney's flyout. DeRosa dove, making a backhanded stop on Casey Blake's infield hit down the line, but his throw to second base never made it. The ball sailed into right field. In the second inning, DeRosa banged his right hand into Loney while scrambling back to first base on a lineout. St. Louis won five of seven games against the Dodgers this season. L.A. manager Joe Torre started his 14th straight playoff run, tying a record for managers set by Atlanta's Bobby Cox (1991-2005).
