The St. Louis Cardinals have struck again in 2012 after defeating the Atlanta Braves 6-3 in the first ever Wild Card playoff game in MLB history. It did not end without controversy however.
Though the Cardinals deserve credit for being clutch and playing well, the Braves beat themselves in this one.
The Braves came into the game with only 86 errors, 1st in the National League. Chipper Jones, Andrelton Simmons and Dan Uggla each had one in the game.
Jones started it off with an errand throw to second on a potential double-play off the bat of Matt Holliday. Jones overthrew Uggla and Beltran, who would have been out at second, went to third. The Cardinals had runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs.
Allen Craig stepped up and smacked a double over the head of Martin Prado to score a run and make it a 2-1 game. The Cardinals took a 3-2 lead by the end of the fourth on a David Freese sacrifice fly to center.
Matt Holliday came up in the sixth and hit a home run to center to give the Cardinals a 4-2 lead.
In the top of the seventh they took advantage of Uggla's error on a grounder hit by Freese. Uggla overthrew it and Freese wound up in second base.
Simmons then could not handle a grounder by shortstop Kozma, which led to the fifth run of the game.
Kyle Lohse went 5.2 IP and allowed 2 earned runs on a home run by replacement catcher David Ross in the second inning of the game.
An ugly scene was witnessed in the 8th inning as an "infield" fly rule was called by the umpire on a popup to short right field. Simmons was called out, but Uggla and Ross moved up to second and third.
Fans, upset, threw bottles and cups onto the field, creating a brief delay.
Fredi Gonzalez has the game under petition. If it is approved, the Braves will resume the game with the bases loaded, 1 out and Brian McCann at-bat.
For now though, the Cardinals are moving on to the NLDS and will play in St. Louis on Sunday.
