Dodgers head home early in 3-1 series upset loss.
Leading up to the MLB Playoffs, most of us personally had the Los Angeles Dodgers penciled in for the National League Championship and more than likely a World Series berth in two weeks. With a the best pitcher in the entire game at the moment, Clayton Kershaw being lights out, as well as his side kick ACE Zack Greinke, there was little doubt around the MLB world that the Dodgers wouldn’t have a deep post-season run this month.
Before the Dodgers took field for the NLDS, they were relying heavily on current All-Star slugger Yasiel Puig. However, the 23-year-old disappeared the entire series, striking a whopping seven times in a row during the first 3 games. He would get his first and only hit of the series in game 4 giving them their only run, but was benched for Andre Ethier to potentially add much-needed offense to their lineup.
After giving up 8 total runs in game 1 of the series, where the Cardinals rallied down 6-1, Kershaw was back on the mound with hopes of sending the series back to Los Angeles. The Dodgers finally saw their bats come alive with Carl Crawford and Hanley Ramirez scoring on St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Shelby Miller getting jammed up in 6th inning. Los Angeles had some much needed breathing room to hopefully tie the series at two all, but the 7th inning stretch was just what the Cardinals needed. Matt Holliday and Jhonny Peralta would soon start the top of the order with back to back singles. Dodger’s skipper, Don Mattingly would stick by his ACE Kershaw, but the team saw an unfortunate 3-run homer blast to deep right from Matt Adams.
The Cardinals were soon ready to close things out and send their opponents back to LAX, after obtaining a 1-2-3 inning in the 8th. A.J. Ellis and Dee Gordon would soon get on base, with Carl Crawford up as the last Dodger to bat in 2014. Unfortunately, he grounded into a fielder’s choice and the game was over.
We’re not sure how the infamous $223 million dollar collective failed to at least make the pennant, but annual winter talks will be heating up in Los Angeles. St. Louis now stays home for the moment to find out if they’ll host the San Francisco Giants in game 1 of the NLCS or travel to Washington for a road game against the Nationals.
What’s next for Magic’s highest paid team in the MLB?