MAJOR LEAGUES
AFP AND AP, LOS ANGELES
Mark Loretta singled home Casey Blake for the winning run as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied in the ninth to defeat St Louis 3-2 in game two of their first-round playoff series.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Ronnie Belliard tied it, setting the stage for Loretta’s heroics as the Dodgers took advantage of an outfield error by the Cardinals’ Matt Holliday with two outs in the final inning of Thursday’s game at Dodger Stadium.
“I knew he would come hard at me,” Loretta said of Cardinals pitcher Ryan Franklin. “I was fortunate that I found a hole.”
The Dodgers jumped all over Franklin in the ninth. James Loney sliced an apparent game-ending liner to a Holliday in left field, but the ball caromed off his stomach for a two-base error. Loretta, who was zero-for-15 lifetime versus Franklin, chopped a game-winning single into left-centre field, scoring Blake with the winning run. The Dodgers had nobody on base before Holliday’s mistake.
“I couldn’t see the ball,” said Holliday. “I lost it in the lights. You come in for the ball, get a good read on it, but at the last minute I lost it in the lights. It hit my body, hit my glove, unfortunate timing. It wasn’t because of lack of effort. I just couldn’t see the ball.”
The ninth inning meltdown spoiled a superb performance from Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright. He didn’t give up a hit until Andre Ethier’s homer in the fourth and dominated through the eighth.
The Cardinals enjoyed a 2-1 lead when Wainwright left the game.
The Dodgers now lead the best-of-five series 2-0 with game three set for today in St Louis.
“This series is far from over,” Loretta said. “We have to keep battling hard and hope we win.”
It marks just the second time this season St Louis has lost back-to-back starts from Chris Carpenter and Wainwright.
“Tough one to swallow,” said Cardinals shortstop Brendan Ryan. “I’m at a loss for words.”
ROCKIES 5, PHILLIES 4
In Philadelphia, Yorvit Torrealba hit a two-run homer to help Colorado edge Philadelphia and square their NL series at 1-1.
Colorado’s Huston Street pitched out of trouble in the ninth to save it. He retired Shane Victorino on a soft liner toward second base to leave the potential tying run at second.
Cole Hamels, the World Series MVP last year, looked nothing like the dominant pitcher during Philadelphia’s championship run last October. He allowed four runs in five innings. He didn’t stick around after departing, rushing off to be with his wife, Heidi, who was in labor with the couple’s first child.
The best-of-five series shifts to Denver for Game 3 today.
ANGELS 5, RED SOX 0
In Anaheim, California John Lackey held Boston scoreless into the eighth inning, steering Los Angeles to victory in the opener of their American League playoff series.
The game was scoreless into the fifth when Angels slugger Torii Hunter hit a three-run homer off the rock pile beyond center field.
The win was a boost for Los Angeles against its longtime playoff nemesis. The Red Sox ended three of the Angels’ past five seasons in the division series, winning nine of 10 games.
It was the first time Boston had been shut out in the playoffs since the 1995 AL division series against Cleveland, and the Red Sox did not manage one extra-base hit.
Game 2 was set for Friday at Angel Stadium, with Boston pitcher Josh Beckett facing Jered Weaver.
The AL West champion Angels snapped a six-game home playoff losing streak thanks to Lackey, who dominated his first postseason victory since 2002 with fine control and good defense behind him.
After allowing only four singles over seven-and-a-third innings, he doffed his cap to a standing ovation from the crowd.
Boston pitcher Jon Lester yielded four hits over six innings for the Red Sox, who had won five straight playoff series openers.
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