Carlos Beltran and the St. Louis Cardinals won Game 1 of the NLCS as they struck the first blow in the MLB Playoff Standings in the second round of the playoffs. He went 2-6 at the plate with all three RBI as the Cardinals won 3-2, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers. Check out the MLB playoff standings after the first LCS game that was one to remember.
It was an exciting and historic NLCS Game 1 that once again saw a pitchers' duel. Zack Greinke, the Dodgers starter went eight innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits, one walk and struck out 10. Young 25-year-old, Joe Kelly, went six innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits, two walks, while striking out five.
Analysts predicted a battle, but these two teams truly matched up perfectly in an exciting Game 1.
The Dodgers broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third. Guess who was responsible for this? It was Game 4 hero, Juan Uribe. He sent a hard chopper up the middle with the bases loaded, scoring Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez.
However, Joe Kelly did not have to wait long before his offense backed him up, answering back in their bottom half of the inning. No surprise who drove in the game-tying runs for the Cardinals, it was their RBI machine in the postseason, Carlos Beltran.
As a matter of fact, Beltran almost hit his 17th career home run in the postseason, lining a shot off the top of the center field wall. Instead of a go-ahead three-run home run, it was a double. Cardinals' pitcher Kelly and second baseman Matt Carpenter scored on the extra-base hit after being walked by Zack Greinke.
The third inning became Greinke's only hiccup. He was dominant, especially late in the game, striking out his last two batters looking. He pitched into the eighth inning for the first time in his postseason career.
The Cardinals threatened in the bottom of the ninth as Brian Wilson, the Dodgers' midseason acquisition, walked Matt Adams and Yadier Molina. With the winning run on second and two outs in the game, Mike Matheny stuck with his heavy first baseman, leaving him to run the base pads and Jon Jay stepped to the plate. However, with a full count, Jay popped up to centerfield, ending the threat.
Jay almost cost the Cardinals the game in the top of the 10th inning after misplaying a Mark Ellis gapper that should have been a long single. Instead, the Dodgers' second baseman wound up in third base with one out. The Cardinals walked Ramirez and Michael Young, who was in at first for Gonzalez, popped up to Carlos Beltran, who gunned down Ellis at the plate to continue this ball game.
This was the longest Game 1 in the history of the N.L. Championship Series. The Dodgers and Cardinals will meet in about 12 hours as they hook up for Game 2 at 4:30 p.m. ET.
The Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers play at 8 p.m. ET in Game 1 of the ALCS. Two aces will take over the mound and hope to provide their teams with decent starts that can lead them to victory. Anibal Sanchez will take the mound for the visiting tigers, while the Red Sox will send their ace, Jon Lester to the hill at Fenway Park.
MLB Playoff Standings: LCS Edition
ALDS ALCS
Red Sox
Rays ------- Red Sox
Tigers------ Tigers
A's
NLDS NLCS
Pirates
Cardinals ------ Cardinals- 1
Dodgers
Braves---------- Dodgers