Chris Taylor’s 2-Plug Trot-Off HR Lifts Dodgers Past Cardinals in NL Wild Card Game

Be a hero, Chris Taylor.

It nearly looked unfair that the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers needed to play a single-elimination game, but their playoff speed will proceed attributable to Taylor’s stroll-off homer within the bottom of the ninth inning.

Los Angeles defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 in Wednesday’s fetch-or-chase-dwelling National League Wild Card Game at Dodger Stadium attributable to his blast. The pitching crew additionally led the procedure for the victors, who performed with the 2nd-most wins within the league at 106.

A valid beginning from Adam Wainwright wasn’t ample for the Cardinals, who were unable to create on the momentum their unhurried-season 17-game winning creep created earlier than the playoffs.

Significant Player Stats

• Chris Taylor, LF, LAD: 1-for-2, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R
• Justin Turner, 3B, LAD: 1-for-1, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R
• Cody Bellinger, CF, LAD: 1-for-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 SB
• Max Scherzer, P, LAD: 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 4 K, 3 BB
• Adam Wainwright, P, STL: 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 5 K, 2 BB
• Tommy Edman, 2B, STL: 3-for-5, 1 R, 2 SB

Dodgers Bullpen Models the Stage for Taylor’s Moment

It be tense to plan halt a smarter pitcher than Max Scherzer for a single-elimination game. After all, the three-time Cy Young winner will probably be on his procedure to a fourth and used to be lights-out for the Dodgers in 11 starts after they traded for him in July.

He used to be something but dominant out of the gates, even supposing, and gave up a speed within the important inning when Tommy Edman scored on a wild pitch.

Scherzer struggled along with his administration at some stage in with three walks, a success-by-pitch and extra than one strikes that he brushed off over the plate, but he managed to atomize out extra than one jams after that first inning and got a enhance from Joe Kelly within the fifth.

Kelly entered with two runners on and one out and induced a groundout from Nolan Arenado and struck out Dylan Carlson to befriend the sport tied at one and give the Dodgers a possibility to fetch it within the unhurried innings.

Whereas Kelly succeeded in a excessive-leverage self-discipline, he used to be apt the beginning of a take hold of bullpen efficiency. Brusdar Graterol cruised thru the sixth, and Blake Treinen retired Arenado within the seventh with a runner in scoring express earlier than he blended with Corey Knebel to pitch a scoreless eighth.

The red-hot Kenley Jansen saved the Cardinals off the board within the ninth as properly with a cool-blooded strikeout of Tyler O’Neill with the chase-forward speed on 2nd negative as Dodgers pitchers continued to fetch out of every jam they created.

Taylor’s dwelling speed used to be the defining moment of Wednesday’s game, but it wouldn’t maintain even been probably with out the gritty 4.2 shutout innings from the bullpen.

Cardinals’ Magic Runs Out in ninth

There were few extra spectacular particular particular person showings this season than the one Wainwright turned in at 40 years historical. His 3.05 ERA used to be his lowest imprint for a elephantine season since 2014, and he anchored the Cardinals rotation at some stage within the season and unhurried push to the playoffs even at his age.

He used to be on the lawful facet of some incredible fielding within the early going Wednesday, including when he flashed lightning-rapid reflexes to snag a Justin Turner line drive. Edman additionally made a terrific sliding play, but one amongst the greatest moments came within the third.

Los Angeles loaded the bases with two walks and a single, but Wainwright escaped by inducing a double play from Trea Turner to befriend the lead.

Whereas that lead disappeared when Turner launched a solo homer within the fourth, Wainwright battled into the sixth inning and out-pitched the most continuously dominant Scherzer. St. Louis couldn’t maintain realistically asked for mighty extra on this beginning pitching matchup and had the possibility to come within the later innings which ability.

Wainwright wasn’t the top Cardinals pitcher who delivered, as Luis Garcia stranded the starter’s runner within the sixth and retired Mookie Betts with a runner in scoring express within the seventh.

Shortstop Paul DeJong saved Giovanny Gallegos’ scoreless eighth with a leaping play on a Will Smith line drive with the rapid Turner on negative, as the Cardinals continued the theme of neutralizing apparently each menace from the loaded Dodgers lineup.

Every menace, that is, except for for Taylor, who launched the sport-winning drive off Alex Reyes within the last frame.

What’s Next?

The Dodgers will face the San Francisco Giants within the top-of-five NL Division Series that starts with Friday’s Game 1.