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BASEBALL-MLB
Cardinals edge Braves, Rays rip Astros to remain in MLB playoffs
WASHINGTON, Oct 8, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina drove
in the tying and winning runs to rally the Cardinals past Atlanta 5-4 in 10
innings Monday and force a one-game showdown to advance in the Major League
Baseball playoffs.
The Cardinals pulled level at 2-2 in the best-of-five series with the final
game on Wednesday in Atlanta, the winner advancing to the National League
Championship Series.
St. Louis second baseman Kolten Wong doubled down the left-field line off
Atlanta reliever Julio Teheran in the 10th and Marcell Ozuna, who hit two
home runs, reached on a fielder’s choice that moved Wong to third. Molina,
who had singled in the tying run in the eighth inning, then blasted a
sacrifice fly to left field, sending Wong to home plate for the winning run.
“I was ready to hit the fastball and he gave it to me right down the
middle,” said Molina, in his 93rd career playoff start. “We put some good at-
bats together in the last inning and we got the win.”
In the American League, Tampa Bay’s Kevin Kiermaier smashed a three-run
homer to help power the Rays over Houston 10-3 to sustain their title hopes.
Paul Goldschmidt and Ozuna smacked back-to-back solo homers off Atlanta
starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel in the first inning.
Ozzie Albies hit a sacrifice fly in the third to open Atlanta’s scoring but
Ozuna followed in the fourth with another solo homer for a 3-1 St. Louis
edge.
The Braves grabbed a 4-3 lead in the fifth when Albies smashed a two-out,
two-run homer after Dansby Swanson doubled and scored on an error by
Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter.
– Rays rip Astros –
In Florida, the Rays pulled within 2-1 in the best-of-five series and will
host game four on Tuesday, when Houston’s Justin Verlander will pitch on
short rest to seek a series-winning victory.
Houston’s Jose Altuve opened the scoring on Monday with a first-inning solo
homer but Kiermaier’s blast in the second inning put the Rays ahead to stay.
“Running around the bases not feeling my feet hit the ground was a great
feeling,” Kiermaier said.
“They have been hammering me with a bunch of off-speed. I got a change-up
over the plate. It felt good. We’ve been needing that. For us to go up two
from there was huge. We’re better when we’re not playing from behind.”
Tampa Bay pitcher Charlie Morton, a 35-year-old American right-hander who
played with Houston the past two seasons, struck out nine batters while
issuing only three hits and two walks over five innings.
Morton improved to 4-0 in career playoff elimination games.
“Nothing ever bothers him. He’s so composed,” Kiermaier said.
Elsewhere, Max Scherzer pitched seven quality innings on a short rest and
the Washington Nationals routed the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 to even their
series 2-2.
The 35-year-old Scherzer allowed just one run on four hits and struck out
seven for the Nationals, who forced a decisive game five Wednesday in
southern California.
Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run homer and Anthony Rendon drove in three
runs. Right hander Scherzer threw 72 of his total 109 pitchers for strikes
and walked three.
Dodgers relief pitcher Julio Urias took the loss, giving up three runs on
three hits and getting just two outs.
Left hander Rich Hill started the game for Los Angeles and was followed by
five relievers including Urias. Hill lasted just 2 2/3 innings.
The Dodgers loaded the bases in the seventh, but their rally was quashed
when Joc Pederson grounded out to second base to end the inning.
The Dodgers are trying to book a third straight trip to the NL Championship
series.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0924 hrs