Cardinals take series lead 2-0 as they head to Los Angeles

Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez takes a fastball in the ribs from Cardinals relief pitcher Joe Kelly in game one of the NLCS.

The Dodgers are two games behind the Cardinals in the NLCS, but now they’re back in Los Angeles for game three, hoping to turn it around. Going into this series everyone knew this would be the toughest challenge for the Dodgers, but the plan was for the Dodgers to win at least one game in St. Louis to take away the home field advantage, but that didn’t happen.

Now the Dodgers are faced with the task of winning three in a row at home and one back in the toughest ballpark for visiting teams, Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis, MO.

Dodgers pitching has been great, but it’s been their bats that have failed the team.

Cardinals third baseman David Freese is about to hit a triple to left field off of Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw to set up a score for the Cards in game two. It would be the only run St. Louis would need t beat  L.A.
Cardinals third baseman David Freese is about to hit a triple to left field off of Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw to set up a score for the Cards in game two. It would be the only run St. Louis would need t beat L.A.

In Friday’s game it came down to the top of the tenth inning when the Dodgers had Hanley Ramirez at the plate with two men on and one out, and the Cards chose to walk him. The Cardinals were confident that with Ramirez out of the batters box, the Dodgers’ Michael Young would strand all three runners on base. It didn’t happen quite like that, but the Dodgers still failed to get any runners home.

In the 7th Inning of Saturday’s Game Two, Dodgers second baseman Nick Punto got on base with a single and two outs. Then Michael Young came to the plate and the Cardinals pitcher Kevin Siegrist advanced Punto to third base on two consecutive wild pitches. But Young flied out to right and the Dodgers failed to get Punto home.

And that’s how it’s been for the Dodgers in the first two games. Their hitting has failed them in clutch situations.

During Sunday’s press conference, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly never really addressed the poor hitting from his batters, except for rookie Yasiel Puig. Even then Mattingly spoke about how Cardinals catcher Yadi Molina kept Puig off balance with the pitching.

Last year the Cardinals signed Yadier Molina to a five-year, 75 million dollar contract. For good reason: he is the best catcher in baseball today. The way he has handled the Dodgers when behind the plate is ample proof he is worth every penny of the contract.

And then he is hitting .319.

If the Dodgers are going to pull off a series win, they will have to outsmart the best catcher in baseball and his pitchers. And they will need Hanley Ramirez hitting at his best. During a press conference on Sunday, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly spoke about Ramirez’s availability for tonight’s game.

In game one Ramirez took a pitch in the ribs from Cards reliever Joe Kelly that put him out for the rest of game one and all of game two. Mattingly said he and the medical staff would decide on Monday if the short stop will play in game three.

They need him. He’s hitting .444 in the playoffs and has one home run. As the first two games illustrated, that could be all the difference between a win or a third loss.

Nick Punto has played well in place of Ramirez, getting a hit in game two, but the truth is the Dodgers need more than one hitter for those clutch moments when all they need is to put one run across the plate.

Even with better hitting the Dodgers have a very difficult road ahead to win the NLCS. Without it, this series is all but over.