18. 1944 World Champion St Louis Cardinals v. 98. 2017 NL Champion Los Angeles Dodgers
And so, we reach the end of Region 2. The 1977 Yankees won Region 1; one of these two teams is about to join them in the Final 8. This was the Cards third straight pennant, they led the league in runs, fielding % and ERA. This Dodger team was in the middle of a great, but unfulfilled run, the 5 of 8 straight postseason appearances (as of 2020). This was LAs first pennant since '88.
Dodgers 104-58 (Pythag: 102-60) Mgr. Dave Roberts (2nd NL Mgr of Year)
Won NL West
d. Diamondbacks 3-0 in NLDS
d. Cubs 4-1 in NLCS (MVP: Chris Taylor/Justin Turner)
lost World Series 4-3 to Astros
d. #31. 1912 Red Sox 2-1 (MVP-Clayton Kershaw/Rich Hill)
d. #34 1952 Yankees 3-1 (MVP-Chris Taylor)
d. #63 1948 Indians 3-0 (MVP-Clayton Kershaw)
All-Stars: 1B Cody Bellinger (NL ROY) RP Kenley Jansen (5th NL Cy Young) SP Clayton Kershaw (2nd NL Cy Young) SS Corey Seager, 3B Justin Turner, SP Alex Wood
This was the Dodgers 5th straight NL West champion, they won more games than any LA team ever.
Cardinals 105-59 (Pythag: 107-47) Mgr. Billy Southworth
Won NL Pennant
d. Browns 4-2 in World Series
d. #111 1914 Braves 2-0 (MVP-Johnny Hopp)
d. #82 2019 Nationals 3-0 (MVP-Walker Cooper)
d. #50 1912 Giants 3-1 (MVP-Stan Musial/Walker Cooper)
All Stars: C Walker Cooper, 3B Whitey Kurowski, SP Max Lanier, SS Marty Marion (NL MVP) SP Red Munger, OF Stan Musial (4th NL MVP)
Hall of Famers: Stan Musial, Billy Southworth
The Cardinals dominated WW2 baseball and this team remains in the tournament. They won the pennant in '43, the World Series this year, and finished 2nd in the NL in '45.
Dodgers Lineup
SS Seager (23) (LH) 126 5.2
1B Bellinger (21) (LH)143 4.1
3B Turner (32) 150 5.1
LF Taylor (26) 123 4.6
RF Puig (26) 119 3.5
C Grandal (28) (SH) 101 3.8
CF Pederson (25) (LH) 96 .2
2B Utley (38) (LH) 93 .95
P Kershaw (LH) (29) 179 6.1
Bench
CF Toles (25) (LH) 102 .4
CF Hernandez (25) 92 1.3
C Barnes (27) 138 3.2
2B Forsythe (30) 1.5
1B Gonzalez (35) (LH) 70
LF Granderson (36) (LH) 73
SP2 Wood (LH) (26) 152 3.8
SP3 Hill (37) (LH) 125 2.7
SP4 Maeda (29) 98
Cardinals
C Cooper (29) 136 4.3
RF Musial (23) 174 (LH) 7.9
CF Hopp (27) 150 (LH) 5.2
3B Kurowski (26) 118 3.8
1B Sanders (27) (LH) 125 2.6
LF Litwhiler (27) 109 2
SS Marion (27) 90 4
2B Verban (28) 62 1.1
Game 1 SP: Munger (25) 268 3.3
Bench:
LF Bergamo (27) 117 (LH) 1
C O'Dea (31) 99 (LH)
UT Garms (37) 36 (LH)
UT Fallon (29) 55
Game 2 SP: Lanier (28) (LH) 135
Game 3 Cooper (31) 145 5.4
Game 4 Wilks (28) 135 3.3
Lineups:
C-Push, Cooper has the highest WAR, but LA's platoon combined is higher
1B-Bellinger
2B-Forsythe/Utley - Forsythe has the most WAR, then Verban, then Utley
SS-Seager, Marion is the NL MVP but Seager has the better year
3B-Turner
LF-Taylor
CF-Hopp
RF-Musial, LA has the stronger position players, they have more bench flexibility, Musial is clearly the best position player in the series.
SP1-Kershaw
SP2-Push
SP3-Cooper
SP4-Wilks, Cards have the better rotation, but Kershaw's the best starter in the series
Bullpen-LA, both clubs have deep pens, but LA's is extra deep and they have Jansen's 315 ERA+
Dodgers 7 Cards 4 - well, this is interesting; St Louis is easily the better seed and they have easily the best bat in the series (Musial) but the Dodgers win the WAR battle, they have the best starter, the best reliever, and their rotation is set up after their sweep in the last round. LA is favored
GAME ONE
1st: Sportsman's Park, St Louis, Missouri. The Region 2 Final is underway in a best of 7. Red Munger, 25 year old RH, 11-3, 1.34 gets the ball in game 1 for the Cards. Munger signed with the Cards in '37 after high school in Houston. His AAA manager was Pepper Martin, now his teammate with the big club, he came up in '43, had a 3.95 ERA; he made the All Star team in '44, but missed the entire second half, including the World Series, and all of '45 for military service. He gets the first, then walks Cody Bellinger. He gets the second then Chris Taylor singles. Yasiel Puig and Yasmani Grandal single back to back to score runs, this Dodger team just keeps going. Dodgers 2 Cards 0
1st: Co-MVP of round 1, MVP in round 3 - 29 year old lefty Clayton Kershaw is set to go today. 18-4, 2.31. Munger's from Houston - Kershaw's from Dallas; in 2011, Kershaw led the league in wins, ERA, Ks, WHIP, H/9 and won the Cy Young. In 2012, he led in ERA, ERA+, H/9 and finished 2nd. In 2013 he led in ERA, Ks, ERA+, WHIP and won the Cy Young. In 2014, in wins, winning %, ERA, ERA+, FIP, K/9, K/BB, won the Cy, won the MVP. In 2015, in Ks, FIP, K/9, 3rd in the Cy, 10th in MVP. In 2016, 5th in the Cy - and this season, led in wins, ERA, ERA+, K/BB, 2nd in the Cy. He gets the first - then gives up a rocket homer to Stan Musial - that ball got out of here in a hurry and the Cards are on the board. After the second out, Whitey Kurowski walks, but that's all. Dodgers 2 Cards 1
2nd: Kershaw helps himself with a one out single; that's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: 32 year old Justin Turner singles. Turner was part of the 2004 College World Series Champs with Cal St Fullerton, the Reds took him in the 7th round in '06, he was dealt to the Orioles system prior to the '09 season and came up that September. The Orioles released Turner in '10 and he went to the Mets, they released him after the '13 season and he signed with LA and with his retooled swing, broke out. Turner hit .340 in '14, in the '15 NLDS against the Mets he hit .526. Turner hit 27 homers last year; this year he made the All Star team, was third in the NL in batting average and second in OBP. He hit .462 in the NLDS, ws co-MVP of the NLCS. That's all for LA.
3rd: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Kershaw
4th: 25 year old Joc Pederson walks; he's platooning in center in the series. LA took Pederson in the 11th round out of a Northern California high school; he came up late in '14 and hit 3 homers in this year's World Series. That's all
4th: Ray Sanders doubles with 2 away. Sanders is from St Louis, signed 3 years after high school by the Cards in '38. Branch Rickey sold star first baseman Johnny Mize to the Giants after the '41 season and Sanders came up. This year he hit .295, had a 371 OBP. led NL first basemen in fielding % and had a hit in each game of the World Series. That's all.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3
6th: Blix Donnelly takes over for St Louis; 30 year old RH with a 2.12 ERA. Donnelly's from Minnesota; he signed with the Cards in '36, 9 years later - he's a 30 year old rookie this season and won game 2 of the World Series. Yasiel Puig greets him with a base hit. Yasmani Grandal walks. But Donnelly keeps LA off the board and St Louis still trails by just a run.
6th: 27 year old Johnny Hopp doubles with 2 out. Hopp went to Hastings College in Nebraska, signed by the Cards in '36, came up late in '39. With center fielder Terry Moore in the military; Hopp got the job this year and broke out, hitting .336. Whitey Kurowski follows with a single and the Cards have tied this game at 2. Dodgers 2 Cards 2
7th: 28 year old RH Freddy Schmidt is next for St Louis. 7-3, 3.15. 1-2-3
7th: Danny Litwhiler walks; he's platooning in left in the series. Litwhiler went to Bloomsburg St Teachers College and got his teaching certificate, then signed with the Tigers in '36. In '39, he had to wait to report to his minor league assignment until a teaching replacement could be found for him at his high school teaching job. He tore up his knee that season, the Tigers released him and he signed with the Phillies, who called him up. In 1942, Litwhiler played in every game and did not make an error. St Louis dealt for him in '43, he hit .264 this season. Kershaw stops it here - he's allowed just 4 hits and we remain tied.
8th: Chris Taylor singles. Taylor went to Virginia, the Mariners took him in the 5th round in '12, he came up middle of the '14 season and two years later the Dodgers got him for Zach Lee. Taylor hit .288 this year, playing all over the diamond and homered on the first pitch of the World Series. But homering right now -- Yasiel Puig - a 2 run bolt that puts the Dodgers back in front. An out later Pederson walks - that's all -- but LA is now 6 outs from taking game 1. Dodgers 4 Cards 2
8th: Walker Cooper singles with one away. MVP for the Cards in round 2, co-MVP in round 3. Cooper's from Missouri, was 25 when he broke in in late '40, in '42 he scored the winning run of the last game of the World Series. This year he hit .317 in the regular season and .318 in the World Series. But that's all Kershaw allows and he's 3 outs away from salting game one.
9th: 34 year old RH Harry Gumbert takes the ball for the Cards, 2.49. 21 year old rookie Cody Bellinger triples with one out. Bellinger played for the Chandler, Arizona team in the '07 Little League World Series. LA took him in the 4th round in '13. He came up early this season; hit 39 homers, won the Rookie of the Year and was 9th in the NL MVP. He's left at third.
9th: LA goes to the pen for Kenley Jansen. 29 year old RH with 41 saves and a 1.32 ERA. Jansen's from Curacao, he played ball with Andrelton Simmons as a kid. Signed with the Dodgers as a catcher in '04, moved to pitching 5 years later and got called up mid 2010. In '11, he broke the MLB record for K/9, had a 1.88 ERA in '13, 44 saves in '14, broke the Dodger career save mark in '16, this year he struck out 51 before giving up his first walk, finished every game of the NLDS, didn't allow a batter to reach in the NLCS.
Kurowski grounds to short - one away.
Sanders flies to right - two away.
And then Litwhiler hits one a mile -- a homer to dead center that brings this sold out crowd to life and the Cards cut it to 1.
Jansen strikes out Marion and it's over.
Dodgers 4
Cards 3
WP Kershaw
LP Munger
Sv Jansen
Kershaw dominates this one, goes 8, gives up 5 hits and Puig drives in 3 runs including the game winning 2 run homer and LA, which swept Cleveland in the last round, wins again.
Bellinger 2x/triple
Turner 1x
Taylor 2x
Puig 3x/HR
Grandal 2x
Pederson 2x
Cooper 1x
Musial 1x/HR
Hopp 1x/double
Kurowski 2x
Sanders 1x
Litwhiler 2x/HR
3B Turner (32) 150 5.1
C Barnes (27) 138 3.2
1B Bellinger (21) (LH)143 4.1
LF Taylor (26) 123 4.6
RF Puig (26) 119 3.5
SS Seager (23) (LH) 126 5.2
CF Hernandez (25) 92 1.3
2B Forsythe (30) 1.5 83
SP2 Wood (LH) (26) 152 3.8
C Cooper (29) 136 4.3
RF Musial (23) 174 (LH) 7.9
CF Hopp (27) 150 (LH) 5.2
3B Kurowski (26) 118 3.8
1B Sanders (27) (LH) 125 2.6
LF Litwhiler (27) 109 2
SS Marion (27) 90 4
2B Verban (28) 62 1.1
Game 2 SP: Lanier (28) (LH) 135
GAME TWO
1st: The Cards do not want to drop the first two games at home; they turn to Max Lanier to even up the series. 28 year old lefty, 17-12, 2.65. Lanier signed with the Cards when he was a 17 year old high school senior in North Carolina in '34 but wound up leaving the organization and playing semi-pro ball. He comes back in '37 and comes up to the big club in '38. Lanier lost 16 in '39, developed elbow issues in '41 but posted a 2.82 ERA; Lanier made the All Star team in '43 and finished the season with a 1.90 ERA. This July, Lanier threw a 14 inning complete game beating the Dodgers. He had what turned out to be appendicitis late in the year and lost his last seven starts. Lanier won clinching Game 6 in the World Series. He gives up a 2 out Bellinger single, that's all.
1st: 26 year old lefty Alex Wood takes the mound; 16-3, 2.72 - like Lanier, Wood is also from North Carolina and went to school at Georgia. The Braves took him in the 2nd round in '12, he came up in '13 and was dealt to LA in the middle of 2015. Wood, like Lanier, had an elbow issue and had surgery in '16. He started this year 10-0 and made the All Star team. 1-2-3
2nd: Kike Hernandez walks with two out. The 25 year old Hernandez is platooning in center; he's from Puerto Rico, taken in the 6th round by the Astros in '09, called up in mid season 2014. A month into his big league career he's sent to the Marlins and then after the season comes to LA. Hernandez hit .423 against lefties in 2015, helping to explain why he's in against Lanier. Hernandez hit .215 this year, playing all over the diamond. Hernandez hit 3 homers in game 5 of the NLCS, one of which was a grand slam. Lorgan Forsythe walks, that's all.
2nd: Danny Litwhiler homered in the 9th in game one and he singles here with 2 away, nothing results.
3rd: Justin Turner singles and Austin Barnes drives him home with a double. Barnes is catching today against the lefty. He went to Arizona St, the Marlins took him in the 8th round in '11. He came to the Dodgers in that same trade that brought Hernandez and made brief big league appearances in '15 and '16. This year he hit .289 platooning with Grandal. Bellinger singles home Barnes and it's 2-0. Lanier holds it here. Dodgers 2 Cards 0
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: Wood helps himself with a 2 out double, but that's all.
4th: Stan Musial singles. Musial was co-MVP last round and homered in game 1. Musial was a 16 year old high school student in Pennsylvania when he signed with he Cards in '37. He started off as a pitcher, but was just hitting by the time he was called up in '41. Musial hit .318, second in the league, in '42 and was third in triples - and then in '43 he became Stan Musial. Led the league in hitting, slugging, OBP, hits, doubles, triples, won the NL MVP. This year, Musial hit .347, led the league in hits, doubles, OBP, slugging. He hit .304 in the World Series. 2 outs later, Whitey Kurowski singles. That's it.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3, Wood holding the Cards to 5 hits.
6th: Yasiel Puig walks - Puig was the offensive star in game one, with 3 RBI in LAs 4-3 win. Puig's Cuban, defected in '10, signed with LA in '12, called up in mid-'13, was 2nd in NL Rookie of the Year. Hamstring injuries began to slow him down in '15, he was sent down for awhile in '16. This year he hit 28 homers, hit .455 in the NLDS and .389 in the NLCS. Puig then steals second - scores on a Corey Seager base hit - the Cards can't afford to let the Dodgers get too many more, given the roll LA pitching is on. Lanier gets one - then Forsythe doubles home Seager. LA has a four run lead. Dodgers 4 Cards 0
6th: 40 year old Pepper Martin pinch singles. Martin grew up in Oklahoma City, quit high school, signed with the Cards in '24. He came up late in '28 and then for good in '31, hitting .300 as a 27 year old rookie. Martin hit .500 in the '31 World Series. In '33 he led the league in runs and steals, in '34 he was an All Star for the Gas House Gang Cards. Martin's last full season was '36, hurting his knee the following year. Martin retires after the '40 season to move into managing in the Cards system - but with the War impact on the Cards roster, came back this year for 40 more games. Walker Cooper follows with a single and Martin scores on a Musial groundout. Dodgers 4 Cards 1
7th: Blix Donnelly is on again for the Cards. 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3, like Kershaw in game 1, and like all the Dodger starters did in the last round - Wood is dominating today. Dodger pitching has really grabbed this Region.
8th: Donnelly gets 2 - Hernandez singles and Fosythe walks. 30 year old Logan Forsythe is platooning at second. Forythe went to Arkansas, the Padres chose him 46th overall in '08, came up in '11. San Diego sent him to Tampa before the '14 season, three years later, the Rays dealt him to LA. He hit .224 this year, .297 in the World Series. It ends here.
8th: 31 year old RH Josh Fields takes over for LA. 2.84. Fields went to Georgia, was 1st team All American his senior year, broke the career SEC saves record. The Mariners took him 20th overall in '08. Seattle shipped him to the Red Sox organization in the middle of '11. The Astros plucked him away the next year and he made his big league debut in early '13. The Dodgers got him at the '16 deadline for Yordan Alvarez, in a deal they regret. He walks Emil Verban, Fields gets one -- and then Walker Cooper bolts a 2 run homer and the Cards have cut the lead to a run. Musial singles. And then Johnny Hopp hits a 2 run homer that absolutely lights up this St Louis crowd - the Cards have scored 4 in the 8th and have taken the lead. 29 year old RH Pedro Baez comes on, gives up a Kurowski double. Sanders walks - Baez escapes. Dodgers 4 Cards 5
9th: The Cards lost game one to the Giants in the last round, were about to lose game 2 but had a dramatic late comeback and didn't lose again. Are we about to see them even this series? Freddy Schmidt is on for the Cards - 3 outs to go. Justin Turner singles. Austin Barnes walks. Tying run in scoring position. Bellinger walks and LA has loaded them up with nobody out. Chris Tayor flies out - it scores the tying run. 34 year old RH Harry Gumbert comes on -- and he gives up a bases clearing triple to Puig. Yasiel Puig comes through again - a 2 run triple and LA regains the lead. Corey Seager follows with a triple - huge inning for LA. Hernandez doubles home another run - bang, bang, bang. Forsythe walks, Gumbert gets the second out - and then Turner singles for the second time in the frame. 24 year old RH Bud Byerly enters. 3.40. He walks Barnes to load the bases - it ends here, but this one is over. Dodgers 10 Cards 5
9th: 32 year old RH Brandon Morrow is on to finish game 2 - 2.06 ERA. He gets one, then walks pinch hitter Ken O'Dea. That's all.
Dodgers 10
Cards 5
WP Baez
LP Schmidt
St Louis saved the tournament, scoring 4 in the 8th to take the lead - and then had it all disappear in a torrent of Dodger extra base hits. 7 strong for Wood following 8 strong for Kershaw.
Bellinger 5x/triple
Turner 4x
Taylor 2x
Puig 5x/HR, triple
Seager 2x/triple
Hernandez 3x/double
Forsythe 4x/double
Grandal 2x
Pederson 2x
Barnes 3x/double
Cooper 3x/HR
Musial 3x/HR
Hopp 2x/double, HR
Kurowski 4x/double
Sanders 2x
Litwhiler 3x/HR
Verban 1x
C Cooper (29) 136 4.3
RF Musial (23) 174 (LH) 7.9
CF Hopp (27) 150 (LH) 5.2
3B Kurowski (26) 118 3.8
1B Sanders (27) (LH) 125 2.6
LF Litwhiler (27) 109 2
SS Marion (27) 90 4
2B Verban (28) 62 1.1
Game 3 Cooper (31) 145 5.4
SS Seager (23) (LH) 126 5.2
1B Bellinger (21) (LH)143 4.1
3B Turner (32) 150 5.1
LF Taylor (26) 123 4.6
RF Puig (26) 119 3.5
CF Toles (25) (LH) 102 .4
C Grandal (28) (SH) 101 3.8
2B Utley (38) (LH) 93 .95
SP3 Hill (37) (LH) 125 2.7
GAME THREE
1st: LA takes both games in St Louis, after their semi-final sweep of the Indians. The Dodgers rolling through Region 2 and now home for the next 3 (if needed). Rich Hill takes the mound; 37 year old lefty, 12-8, 3.32. Hill went to Michigan, drafted after his junior year by the Cubs in the 4th round in '02, debuted in mid '05, dealt to Baltimore before the '09 season. Hill tore his shoulder that year, was let go and signed with the Cards in '10, he opted out of the organization at mid season and signed in Boston. In '11 he blew out his elbow and had Tommy John (shoulders and elbows, life of a professional pitcher) they'd let him go the following year and he signs with Cleveland before the '13 season. In 2013 he works 63 innings, the most of his career, and he's bad, an ERA over 6. He signs a deal to go back to the Red Sox before the '14 season and they ship him to the Angels a few months later. He's released quickly and finishes up '14 with the Yankees. In '15, he signs with the Nats, never gets called up - opts out - and finishes the year in his third stint with the Red Sox organization. Hill has the best stretch of his career as a starter with the A's in 2016, enough that it buys him a deadline deal trade to LA and that run continues through his solid 2017 and here he stands, on the Dodger Stadium mound, in Game 3. He walks Walker Cooper to open, gets one, gives up a Johnny Hopp single - and then Whitey Kurowski beats him with a 3 run blast that puts the Cards out in front. St Louis desperately needed a good start here and they get one. Cards 3 Dodgers 0
1st: Walker Cooper's big brother Mort gets the ball for the Cards. 31 year old RH, 22-7, 2.46. Cooper played American Legion ball in Kansas City, signed with the Cards in '33. Cooper had a bad car accident after the '34 season, struggled with recuperation, got his first call up in late '37. Cooper's up for good in '39, with elbow issues that continue for years (elbows and shoulders) and in '42 has his big year, 22 wins, a 1.78 ERA and the NL MVP. In '43 he led the league in wins, second in Ks, ERA, shutouts. Cooper led the league in shutouts this season and shutout the Browns in Game 5 of the World Series. Bellinger singles with one away, Turner singles - Taylor singles and the bases are loaded with just one away. But Cooper buckles down and gets through it.
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Chase Utley singles with one out. Utley's platooning at second; with Forsythe having a big game 2, probably Utley needs to get on base today to earn any more playing time in the series. Utley is 38 years old, went to UCLA, the Phillies took him 15th overall in '00 and got called up in '03, becoming the every day second baseman in '05. Utley had a 35 game hitting streak in '06, made the NL All Star team in '07 and '08, and he hit 5 home runs in the 2009 World Series. In '11, Utley's knees started to go and the Phillies dealt him to LA late in 2015. Utley went 0-15 in this year's postseason. That's it.
3rd: Musial singles - that's all Hill allows.
3rd: Chris Taylor singles with 2 out, that's all.
4th: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Emil Verban walks. Verban hit .412 in the '44 World Series; that's all Hill allows.
5th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Cooper, he maintains the shutout as we go to the 6th.
6th: Whitey Kurowski walks with one away. Kurowski hit that big 3 run homer in the first that remains the only runs on the board today. A childhood injury caused Kurowski's right arm to be several inches shorter than his left; was signed by the Cards at 19 years old from his Pennsylvania high school in 1937. He and Musial came up together in the '41 pennant race. Kurowski hit a big 9th inning World Series homer in game 5 off of Red Ruffing in '42 to give the Cards the championship. Nothing results - the Cards have just 3 hits today.
6th: Yasiel Puig doubles with 2 away, he's now reached 6 times. But Cooper again holds on.
7th: Josh Fields let the Cards back into game 2 and he gets another shot here. 1-2-3
7th: Utley singles with one out - lot of production from Dodger second basemen in the series. It ends here, Cooper maintaining the shutout.
8th: Musial singles with one out, that's all.
8th: 1-2-3, Mort Cooper is pitching the Cards back into this series.
9th: 29 year old RH Pedro Baez enter for LA, 2.95. 1-2-3 great outing for Dodger pitching, St Louis with just 4 hits.
9th: Cooper stays on to finish this up.
Puig grounds to first, Sanders keeps it himself.
Toles grounds to first, Sanders keeps it himself.
Grandal doubles down the line to keep the Dodgers alive.
Utley triples -- such a huge game for the veteran Utley - and it puts the Dodgers on the board.
Joc Pederson comes on to hit for the pitcher.
Blix Donnelly comes on to pich - and he walks him.
2 on, 2 out - Dodgers trail by 2.
Seager flies to deep - deep - deep right -- caught by Musial to end the game.
Cards 3
Dodgers 1
WP Cooper
LP Hill
Sv Donnelly
The Cards only get 4 hits today, but one is a 3 run Whitey Kurowski homer and they get a game.
Cooper 4x/HR
Musial 5x/HR
Hopp 3x/double, HR
Kurowski 6x/double, HR
Sanders 2x
Litwhiler 3x/HR
Verban 1x
Bellinger 6x/triple
Turner 5x
Taylor 4x
Puig 6x/HR, triple, double
Seager 2x/triple
Hernandez 3x/double
Forsythe 4x/double
Grandal 3x/double
Utley 3x/triple
Pederson 2x
Barnes 3x/double
CF Hopp (27) 150 (LH) 5.2
RF Musial (23) 174 (LH) 7.9
1B Sanders (27) (LH) 125 2.6
C Cooper (29) 136 4.3
LF Bergamo (27) 117 (LH) 1
3B Kurowski (26) 118 3.8
SS Marion (27) 90 4
2B Verban (28) 62 1.1
Game 4 Wilks (28) 135 3.3
SS Seager (23) (LH) 126 5.2
1B Bellinger (21) (LH)143 4.1
3B Turner (32) 150 5.1
LF Taylor (26) 123 4.6
RF Puig (26) 119 3.5
C Grandal (28) (SH) 101 3.8
CF Pederson (25) (LH) 96 .2
2B Utley (38) (LH) 93 .95
SP4 Maeda (29) 98
GAME FOUR
1st: Kenta Maeda takes the mound for the first time in the tournament; 29 year old RH, 13-6, 4.22. Maeda signed out of the Japanese league before last season. He was 3rd in the NL Rookie of the Year. He moved in and out of the rotation this year; was in the pen in the playoffs, particularly strong against RH bats. Hopp singles - he's reached four times in the series; he gets 2 and then Augie Bergamo, getting his first start of the series against LAs only RH doubles to score a run. A wild pitch moves Bergamo to third and then he scores when Kurowski reaches on error. Cards 2 Dodgers 0
1st: Ted Wilks is given that 2 run lead. 28 year old rookie RH 17-4, 2.64. Wilks is from upstate New York, dropped out of high school, played some semi-pro ball and signed with the Cards in '37. He didn't make the big club until this year, he joined the rotation at mid year when Munger left for the military. In August, he was knocked out when he took a line drive off the ear. He clinched the World Series out of the pen in Game 6. 1-2-3
2nd: Emil Verban doubles. Hopp singles again an out later and it's 3-0. Musial singles, he's now reached 6 times. After the second out - Walker Cooper singles, it's 4-0 Cards and look what we've got here, it's St Louis storming through Dodger Stadium. Cards 4 Dodgers 0
2nd: Chris Taylor walks and steals second - Dodgers trying to get it going. They don't.
3rd: Whitey Kurowski homers to left center - Kurowski won game 3 with a homer and hits another here. Sure looks like the Cards are about to even up this series. An out later Verban singles. After the second out, Hopp singles for the third time today and then Musial singles home another St Louis run. Maeda isn't ready for this smoke. Cards 6 Dodgers 0
3rd: Corey Seager doubles with 2 away, that's all.
4th: Walker Cooper walks. Maeda gets one and then Kurowski salts this one away with a 2 run homer -- Whitey Kurowski has wrested control of this series and it's 8-0. 25 year old RH Brock Stewart gets the call from Dave Roberts, he's got a 3.41 ERA and he ends it. Cards 8 Dodgers 0
4th: Turner reaches by error - two outs later Grandal singles him home to break the shutout. Cards 8 Dodgers 1
5th: Hopp walks with 1 out - he's reached 4 times today - that's all.
5th: Utley singles, but that's it.
6th: 32 year old Chris Hatcher is the next Dodger arm, 4.66. 1-2-3.
6th: Taylor doubles with 2 away, nothing results. Wilks is putting LA away today.
7th: 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3
8th: Musial doubles with one away - he's now reached 8 times in the series. After the second out he scores on a Cooper single. Bergamo walks - Kurowski singles home another run. And then Marty Marion adds some more pain with a 3 run jack. The Cards have come to LA and are just whipping the Dodgers. Cards 13 Dodgers 1
8th: 24 year old RH Bud Byerly gets the call for the Cards - 1-2-3
9th: Byerly singles and two outs later scores on a Hatcher wild pitch. Musial singles again and Sanders walks, that's all. Cards 14 Dodgers 1
9th: 1-2-3
Cards 14
Dodgers 1
WP Wilks
LP Maeda
So - in these best of 7 series (and least until we get to the final four teams) we're using 4th starters for game 4 and that did not serve LA well today as Maeda got lit up. 17 Cardinal hits. LA just got 4 of their own and just got obliterated here as St Louis evened up the series at 2.
Cooper 7x/HR
Musial 9x/HR, double
Hopp 7x/double, HR
Kurowski 9x/double, 3HR
Sanders 3x
Litwhiler 3x/HR
Verban 3x/double
Bergamo 2x/double
Marion 1x/HR
Bellinger 6x/triple
Turner 5x
Taylor 6x/double
Puig 6x/HR, triple, double
Seager 3x/triple
Hernandez 3x/double
Forsythe 4x/double
Grandal 4x/double
Utley 4x/triple
Pederson 2x
Barnes 3x/double
C Cooper (29) 136 4.3
RF Musial (23) 174 (LH) 7.9
CF Hopp (27) 150 (LH) 5.2
3B Kurowski (26) 118 3.8
1B Sanders (27) (LH) 125 2.6
LF Litwhiler (27) 109 2
SS Marion (27) 90 4
2B Verban (28) 62 1.1
Game 1 SP: Munger (25) 268 3.3
SS Seager (23) (LH) 126 5.2
1B Bellinger (21) (LH)143 4.1
3B Turner (32) 150 5.1
LF Taylor (26) 123 4.6
RF Puig (26) 119 3.5
C Grandal (28) (SH) 101 3.8
CF Pederson (25) (LH) 96 .2
2B Utley (38) (LH) 93 .95
P Kershaw (LH) (29) 179 6.1
GAME FIVE
1st: Pivotal game 5 - the road teams have won all 4 games; we will be going back to St Louis, the quetion is which team will be a game from advancing. Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for LA - he walks Cooper to lead off, he's now reached 8 times - but that's all.
1st: Red Munger goes for the Cards -- he gets 2 and then Justin Turner doubles. He's reached 7 times on the series. That's all.
2nd: Kershaw gets two - then Marion and Verban single back to back - that's all.
2nd: Puig singles - he's now reached 7 times. Munger stops it.
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Kershaw
4th: Puig again, he singles with 2 out - but that is all.
5th: 1-2-3, 10 straight for Kershaw
5th: 1-2-3, Munger's struck out 6.
6th: 1-2-3, Kershaw has retired 13 in a row, the Cards have just 2 hits. Kershaw's struck out 5.
6th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Munger, LA has 3 hits today -- Munger and Kershaw battling it out in game 5, this series is absolutely deadlocked at 2.
7th: 1-2-3, 16 straight for Kershaw.
7th: Munger's done - Blix Donnelly is on, can the Dodgers break through? Puig again, he singles with one away. Nothing results.
8th: 1-2-3...19 straight for Kershaw.
8th: Freddy Schmidt now for the Cards -- 1-2-3
9th: Scoreless in the 9th inning of game 5. Who takes the series lead? Kershaw gets 1 and then Musial singles. That's all.
9th: Corey Seager doubles - there it is, there's the big blow - and now the winning run is at second. Schmidt walks Bellinger intentionally to set up the force play. Cards in a real pickle here. Turner flies to center -- Seager scampers to third. 90 feet away from the win. Taylor grounds to third - the runner doesn't break to the plate - Kurowski's only play is at first.
Second and third, 2 away, still scoreless -- Puig....bounces to Sanders -- he takes it to the bag himself and Schmidt is out of it and we head to the 10th.
10th: Kershaw's day is over and it's Josh Fields for LA. 1-2-3.
10th: Pederson singles with one away - that brings on Harry Gumbert; he gets the second out, the Dodgers go with Andrew Toles to pinch hit - and he singles. Men on the corners -- 2 away -- Seager slaps a single to left center -- and it's done
Cards 0
Dodgers 1
WP Fields
LP Schmidt
Helluva pitchers duel here at Dodgers Stadium, in the end - it's LA who punches across the only run of the day to take a 3-2 series lead. Just 3 hits for St Louis.
Bellinger 7x/triple
Turner 6x/double
Taylor 6x/double
Puig 9x/HR, triple, double
Seager 5x/triple, double
Hernandez 3x/double
Forsythe 4x/double
Grandal 4x/double
Utley 4x/triple
Pederson 3x
Barnes 3x/double
Toles 1x
Cooper 8x/HR
Musial 10x/HR, double
Hopp 7x/double, HR
Kurowski 9x/double, 3HR
Sanders 3x
Litwhiler 3x/HR
Verban 4x/double
Bergamo 2x/double
Marion 2x/HR
3B Turner (32) 150 5.1
C Barnes (27) 138 3.2
1B Bellinger (21) (LH)143 4.1
LF Taylor (26) 123 4.6
RF Puig (26) 119 3.5
SS Seager (23) (LH) 126 5.2
CF Hernandez (25) 92 1.3
2B Forsythe (30) 1.5 83
SP2 Wood (LH) (26) 152 3.8
C Cooper (29) 136 4.3
RF Musial (23) 174 (LH) 7.9
CF Hopp (27) 150 (LH) 5.2
3B Kurowski (26) 118 3.8
1B Sanders (27) (LH) 125 2.6
LF Litwhiler (27) 109 2
SS Marion (27) 90 4
2B Verban (28) 62 1.1
Game 2 SP: Lanier (28) (LH) 135
GAME SIX
1st: Back to Sportsman's Park for Game 6 - LA took Game 5 1-0 in 10 innings and are 9 innings away from joining the 1977 Yankees in the Final 8. Max Lanier takes the hill for the Cards. 1-2-3
1st: Alex Wood was really strong in a no decision in game 2 and goes again today. 1-2-3
2nd: Chris Taylor walks. He's reached 7 times. Taylor steals second and then scores on a Puig base hit. LA jumps out in front. Lanier gets one, then gives up a base hit to Hernandez, Forsythe grounds out and it scores the second run. Dodgers 2 Cards 0
2nd: Kurowski singles, he's reached 10 times - he also has 3 homers on the series and is the hitting star for either side. Ray Sanders singles, Wood gets 2 and then Verban singles home a run. Wood walks Lanier, that's all. Dodgers 2 Cards 1
3rd: Lanier hits Turner - Barnes reaches by error - two outs later Puig singles to score a run. Puig has reached 11 times in the series. Seager singles - Seager drove in game 5's only run. Hernandez singles - it scores 2 more - LA is up 5-1 and this Dodger team can feel it happening now. Forsythe walks - thats it. Dodgers 5 Cards 1
3rd: Musial singles, can the Cards get some back? Hopp singles. Kurowski walks - and now this sold out crowd is into it again - bases drunk with Cardinals and nobody out -- Sanders grounds into a big double play, scoring a run. But that's a big stop for Wood. Dodgers 5 Cards 2
4th: Lanier is still out there but shouldn't be - back to back walks for Turner and Barnes, and then Cody Bellinger ends this series with a 3 run homer - this Dodger dugout has exploded with joy and a 6 run lead. Puig singles after an out, that's all. Dodgers 8 Cards 2
4th: Marty Marion homers - his second of the series to get a run back. Wood hits Verban, 2 outs later - here's Musial, a run scoring single. Dodgers 8 Cards 4
5th: Turner singles with 2 out, that's it.
5th: Kurowski gets hit - Wood's now hit Cardinals in back to back innings - it ends here.
6th: Bud Byerly is on for St Louis - Bellinger singles, Taylor singles, Puig singles and it's 9-4. Seager grounds out and it's Dodgers 10 Cards 4
6th: 1-2-3
7th: The Dodgers can barely contain themselves, 9 outs away from advancing. Turner doubles with one out - that's all.
7th: Josh Fields takes over for LA - gives up a two out Hopp single, but that's all.
8th: 22 year old RH Al Jursich for St Louis - 1-2-3
8th: Pedro Baez now for LA - 1-2-3
9th: Hernandez walks, it ends here.
9th: Baez stays on the mound, LA just 3 outs from winning Region 2 --
Verban grounds to Forsythe - to first. One away.
The veteran Pepper Martin onto pinch hit - standing ovation from this Cardinal crowd who knows this might be his final at bat. Easy fly ball to Hernandez.
Cooper singles.
And that means one more at bat for Musial -- he grounds to Seager -- onto first -- and the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers are your Region 2 Champs!
Dodgers 10
Cards 4
WP Wood
LP Lanier
The Dodgers mob Baez on the mound - the 98th overall seed, the NL Champion Dodgers, who lost the World Series have survived the Region 2 gauntlet to advance to the final 8 teams in this tournament.
Bellinger 9x/triple, HR
Turner 9x/ 2 doubles
Taylor 8x/double
Puig 13x/HR, triple, double
Kershaw had 2 dominant games - and LA had four big hitting stars; Puig had 4 hits today, he outpaced the rest of the bats - and he is the MVP as the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers join the 1977 New York Yankees as the first 2 teams to reach the Elite Eight.
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