Looking back at 5 Cardinals-Dodgers postseason series

2014 National League Division Series

The Cardinals came into this series as NL Central Division champions (90-72) and the Dodgers as NL West Division champions (94-68).

The Cardinals lineup included Yadier Molina, Matt Holiday, Matt Adams and Jhonny Peralta. The pitching staff included 20-game winner Adam Wainwright, 15-game winner Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller and closer Trevor Rosenthal.

The Dodgers lineup included Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez, Juan Uribe and Yasiel Puig. The pitching staff had 21-game winner Clayton Kershaw, 17-game winner Zack Greinke, Dan Haren and closer Kenley Jansen.

Game 1 featured starting pitchers Adam Wainwright and eventual Cy Young Award Winner Clayton Kershaw. However, the game turned into a 26-hit slugfest, which the Cardinals would eventually win 10-9.  The Cardinals put the game away in the seventh inning behind Matt Carpenter’s three run double and Matt Holliday’s three run homer.

Game 2 was nearly the exact opposite with solid pitching performances by Zack Greinke and Lance Lynn. The game wasn’t decided until an eighth inning home run by Matt Kemp off Pat Neshek and Kaley Jansen’s shut down ninth, to give the Dodgers a 3-2 win.

Game 3 featured another fine pitching performances by starters Hyun-jin Ryu of the Dodgers and John Lackey of the Cardinals. The game wasn’t decided until Kolten Wong’s two run homer in the seventh to give the Cardinals an eventual 3-1 win.

Game 4 was another pitching gem by both teams. Clayton Kershaw started on three days rest and Shelby Miller got the nod for the Cardinals. The Dodgers struck first in the sixth inning, chasing Miller from the game to take a 2-0 lead. However, in the bottom of the seventh, Matt Adams hit a three run homer off Kershaw to take a 3-2 lead and the Dodgers were never able to answer.

The Cardinals won the series three games to one, but would go on to lose in the NLCS to the San Francisco Giants four games to two.