Catcher A.J. Ellis has the hardest-hit ball of the afternoon for the Dodgers; he sent a 94 mph fastball to deep center field for a ground-rule double with two outs in the top of the fifth. However, Nick Punto, hitting for the injured Hanley Ramirez, failed to bring Ellis home, as he was frozen by an 89 mph fastball from Michael Wacha to end the threat and the inning.
NLCS Game 2, Dodgers vs. Cardinals score update: 1-0 Cardinals, Bottom 6
The Cardinals finally break through against Clayton Kershaw.
Dilip Vishwanat
David Freese led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to left field on a hanging curveball by Kershaw, then moved to third base on a passed ball by A.J. Ellis. Following a Matt Adams strikeout, Jon Jay lifted a fly ball to left field, deep enough to score Freese and give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. Carl Crawford's throw from left field was off the line, allowing for an easy pass home.
It looked like Los Angeles would respond quickly in the top of the sixth. Clayton Kershaw led off with a single to left and moved to third base when Matt Carpenter misplayed a Carl Crawford ground-ball single.
Mark Ellis popped out for the first out of the inning, but Wacha then chose to intentionally walk Adrian Gonzalez to load the bases for Yasiel Puig, who had struck out twice already. Puig worked the count full against Wacha, who unleashed a fastball at the Cuban import's feet; Puig swung over it for a hat trick.
Juan Uribe, the Dodgers' hero in the NLDS and lone run producer in Game One, struck out to end the inning.
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