The St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates go head-to-head in Game 3 of the NLDS on Sunday evening. Check out the radio stream, free online, as one of these teams will be one win away from clinching the series and advancing.
In case you have missed the first two games, let's play catch-up.
The Cardinals started the series quickly. They pounded A.J. Burnett, who probably should not get the ball again the rest of this series, scoring nine runs as the Pirates' righty could not find the strike zone. Carlos Beltran went deep in his only hit of the game, but it hurt the Pirates big time.
Adam Wainwright proved unhittable in this matchup, hurling seven innings of three-hit baseball, while recording nine strikeouts.
Pedro Alvarez was the only Pirate to get a run across as he muscled a ball over the walls at Busch Stadium, avoiding the shutout. The Cardinals won 9-1, taking a 1-0 lead. However, Alvarez proved clutch in Game 2, along with Pirates' starter, Gerrit Cole.
In Game 2, it was all Pirates. Cole was great and Alvarez provided some more pop. He scored the first run as pitcher Cole helped himself by driving in the game's first run. Alvarez then bopped his second home run of the series over the center field fence, providing insurance for Cole and that was all he would need.
Cole, in his first ever postseason start, went six innings, allowing only one earned run, a home run to catcher Yadier Molina in the fifth inning. Aside from that, only three Cardinals were on base as Cole allowed only two hits and a walk, while striking out five red birds in the afternoon.
The series is now tied 1-1 and second-year pitcher Joe Kelly will get the ball for the Cardinals, while Francisco Liriano takes the mound for the Pirates.
Click here for the radio stream as the Pirates and Cardinals face off at 4:30 p.m. ET for the NLDS lead.
Click here for the schedule to confirm ESPN Radio will be broadcasting this game.
