Los Angeles’ Mark Loretta singled with the bases loaded and two outs off Cardinals’ closer Ryan Franklin to walk off with a 3-2 win and a two games to nothing lead in the National League Division Series. A two out error from Matt Holliday kept the ninth inning alive.
Adam Wainwright was outstanding. He left with a 2-1 after giving up just a solo home run to Andre Ethier. Wainwright allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out seven.
Matt Holliday put the Cardinals on top in the second inning with a solo home run off Dodgers’ starter Clayton Kershaw. After Ethier tied it for the Dodgers in the bottom of the fourth, the Cardinals went on top in the seventh when Colby Rasmus doubled home Mark DeRosa.
The Dodgers loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth with two outs after Wainwright gave up a single to Russell Martin, hit Jim Thome and then walked Rafael Furcal before getting Matt Kemp to ground to Pujols at first.
However, in the ninth, the Dodgers got to Franklin. After Trever Miller got the lefty Ethier to pop out, Tony LaRussa went to his closer who has struggled down the stretch, but Franklin got Manny Ramirez to fly to center for the second out. Then James Loney reached on a fielder error by Matt Holliday. Franklin walked Casey Blake. Ronnie Belliard singled home the tying run, then after a walk to Martin to load the bases, Loretta singled in the winning run.
