Matt Carpenter's Two-Run Shot Gives Cardinals 2-1 NLCS lead
Fitzgerald Cecilio
St. Louis, MO
Rookie Matt Carpenter hit a go-ahead two-run shot as the St. Louis Cardinals notched a 3-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants after more than three hours of rain delay Wednesday at Busch Stadium for a 2-1 lead in the National League Championship Series.
Carpenter started the game on the bench but he took over Carlos Beltran's place in right field after he suffered a left knee strain after grounding into a double play in the opening inning.
In the third frame, Carpenter hit Matt Cain's 2-2 pitch over the right-field fence for a two-run shot, giving the Cardinals a 2-1 lead they would keep until the end of the game. Shane Robinson added an RBI single in the seventh for the final count.
"I don't know. He's a really good pitcher," said Carpenter, who is 5-for-5 against Cain this year, when asked about his success against the Giants right-hander. "I've had some success, but I just go out there try to battle, get a good pitch to hit, and today I was fortunate enough to get one of those."
Carpenter's first career postseason homer was witnessed by his parents, who joined his wife, Mackenzie, at Busch Stadium by driving through the night from their home in Texas.
"When guys get hurt, especially a guy like Carlos, sometimes that can be kind of a letdown from an energy standpoint as a team," Carpenter said. "I wanted to do something that would bring some life back."
Kyle Lohse (1-0) pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up one earned run on seven hits with five walks that put him in a jam several times but the defense bailed him out of trouble with a pair of double plays.
"I thought it was a classic Kyle Lohse, just pitching," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "Kyle Lohse, from the opening day of the season, has been such a steady starter for us and does a great job of figuring out how to get outs, even when he doesn't have his best stuff."
Lohse stranded three in the first two innings before the Giants scored a third-inning run behind an RBI groundout by Pablo Sandoval.
After walking Buster Posey, Lohse forced Hunter Pence to hit a grounder, resulting in an inning-ending double play.
Trevor Rosenthal got the final out in the sixth after relieving Lohse while Mitchell Boggs struck out two with two runners on base in the seventh.
Closer Jason Motte pitched the last two innings, collecting the six outs with only 19 pitches, 16 of which were strikes, for his second save in the series.
"It's a big win," Motte said. "To come here and get the win tonight is big. But this is a good ballclub, so we have to come out tomorrow and do everything we can to try and win that one." for the Cardinals for his second save in the series.
Cain (0-1) surrendered three earned runs on six hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
The St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Wednesday night, to take a 2-1 lead in the NLCS. Rookie Matt Carpenter hit a two-run homer in his first NLCS at bat after subbing for the injured Carlos Beltran
Cards Beat Giants 3-1, Lead NLCS 2-1
SI.com's Tom Verducci breaks down how both the Cardinals and the Giants will need to score early in the rest of the NLCS and how St. Louis won't let the Giants' Buster Posey beat them
Patterns emerge in NLCS
- Sandoval Hits Three Homers, Giants Top Tigers in World Series Opener
- Sandoval: 'I still can't believe I did it'
- Sandoval and the Giants Flip World Series Script
- Giants Fans Stand By Barry Zito
- Ex-Skipper Bobby Valentine Blasts David Ortiz For Quitting On Red Sox
- Marlins Dismiss Manager Ozzie Guillen
- Scutaro and Pence Carry Giants to NL Pennant and World Series
- Giants Crush Cards, Force NLCS Game 7
- Yankees Ready to Listen to Offers for A-Rod
- NLCS Game 6: Cardinals - Giants Preview
- Red Sox Hire Blue Jays Skipper John Farrell as New Manager
- Trades Help Diamondbacks Beef Up Bullpen and Infield
- Zito's Strong Outing Carries Giants Past Cardinals, Forces Game 6
- Embattled Alex Rodriguez Wants to Stay with Yankees
- Wainwright Gem Helps Cardinals Tame Giants, Take 3-1 NLCS Lead
- Scherzer Shines as Tigers Topple Yankees, Advance To World Series
- Yankees Deny Talking to Marlins About A-Rod Trade
- Matt Carpenter's Two-Run Shot Gives Cardinals 2-1 NLCS lead
- Rain Postpones Game 4 of ALCS
- Can A-Rod and Yankees Ever Repair Their Relationship?
- Verlander Carries Tigers to Verge of ALCS Sweep
- Rockies to Interview Jason Giambi for Managerial Post
- Pagan and Scutaro Star as Giants Crush Cardinals, Tie NLCS at 1-1
- Manager Dusty Baker Signs Two-Year Extension with Reds
- Freese and Beltran Homer as Cards Down Giants in NLCS Game 1
- Sanchez Silences Yankees as Tigers Take 2-0 ALCS Lead
- Young and Dirks Shine as Tigers Top Yanks in ALCS Opener
- Cardinals Edge Nationals, Advance to NLCS vs Giants
- Sabathia Pitches Yankees Past Orioles and into ALCS
- Werth's Walk-Off Homer Helps Nats Tie Cards at 2-2 in NLDS
- Posey's Grand Slam Helps Giant Beat Reds, Advance to NLCS
- Tigers Top A's, Advance to ALCS
- Orioles defeat Yankees, Force Deciding Game 5
- Crisp's Walkoff RBI Single Lifts A's Over Tigers, Forces Game 5
- Ibanez Slugs Two Homers to Power Yankees Over Orioles
- Sandoval Drives in 3 as Giants Force Game 5 with Reds
- Chris Carpenter Shines as Cards Blank Nats for 2-1 NLDS Lead
- Brett Anderson Helps A's Blank Tigers, Force Game 4 in ALDS
- Not Dead vs Reds: Giants Posey Scores Deciding Run in 10th
Copyright © 2012 AHN - All Rights Reserved