 Dodgers win 6-4 to force Game 6 in NLCS
Nederlands
 LOS ANGELES, California (USA) -
The National League Championship Series will return to St. Louis, as the Los Angeles Dodgers won 6-4 vs. St. Louis Cardinals tonight (Wednesday, October 16).
With that, the Cardinals are now leading 3-2 in the best-of-seven, meaning that at least one more game is needed to decide which team will advance to the World Series, which opens on Wednesday, October 23.
The Dodgers opened the score early by scoring two runs in the second at bat off of starter Joe Kelly.
Adrian Gonzalez led off with a single, then advanced on an one-out single by Yasiel Puig.
Juan Uribe followed with another single that gave the Dodgers an 1-0 lead.
After a pop-fly accounted for the second out, Dodger-pitcher Zack Greinke also singled to bring in Puig and make it 2-0.
When Greinke took the mound moments later, he gave up some hits himself, which tied the score.
With one out, Matt Carpenter singled, then Carlos Beltran followed with a triple and Matt Holliday with a double to make it 2-2.
Holliday then advanced on a single by Matt Adams, but the inning ended when Yadier Molina grounded into a double play.
The Dodgers immediately re-took the lead in the bottom of the third inning when Adrian Gonzalez homered with two outs.
Both teams then were retired in order in the fourth inning.
Greinke pitched another one-two-three inning in the top of the fifth inning.
He then was supported with another run in the bottom of the at bat when Carl Crawford homered with one out.
Greinke continued his strong pitching after the third inning, as he also retired the side in the sixth and seventh inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Los Angeles hit another homerun to add an insurance run.
This time, with one out, A.J. Ellis hit the ball over the fence to increase the lead to 5-2.
After having retired 13 batters in a row since the third inning, Greinke was relieved by Brian Wilson, who pitched the eighth inning.
The bearded reliever got three groundouts and thus the Cardinals were retired in order again.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Dodgers scored again and for the fourth time, via a homerun.
Facing new pitcher John Axford with two outs Adrian Gonzalez hit hit second homerun in the game to make it 6-2.
The additional runs proved to be needed, as the Cardinals scored twice in the top of the ninth inning.
Closer Kenley Jansen took over for Wilson, but was greeted with a double by Matt Holliday, who then scored when Matt Adams followed with a single.
Jansen then struckout Molina, but Jon Jay followed with a single to move Adams to second base.
Hereafter, Jansen struckout David Freese, but then gave up a basehit hit.
Pete Kozma's single brought in Adams and narrowed the deficit for the Cards to 6-4.
With runners on first and second base, Jansen faced pinch-hitter Adron Chambers.
The Dutch righthander then closed the game in style, as Chambers was called out on strikes.
And so, the series returns to St. Louis for Game 6.
(October 16)
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