SBNation.com - NLCS 2013: Cardinals blow out Dodgers, advance to World Serieshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2013-10-25T14:00:27-04:00http://www.sbnation.com/rss/stream/45920512013-10-25T14:00:27-04:002013-10-25T14:00:27-04:00The Dodgers' bad breaks in the 2013 NLCS
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<figcaption>Ed Zurga</figcaption>
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<p>The Cardinals are in the World Series. But if just one of any number of breaks had gone the other way, it could have been the Dodgers instead.</p> <p>Of course, as everyone is aware by now, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> defeated the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> in six games in the NLCS. The series didn't even really feel all that close. When Zack Greinke and <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> dropped the first two games in St. Louis, the rest of the series sort of felt like a foregone conclusion. But in actuality, only the final game of the series was a blowout. The other three Dodgers losses were decided by one run, one run and two runs. And the games were even closer than that would suggest.</p>
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<strong>More</strong>: <a target="new" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/10/25/5026784/2013-world-series-red-sox-cardinals-game-1-gif-recap">World Series Game 2 GIF recap</a>
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<p>Why? Because this series, more than any other in recent memory, featured missed opportunity after missed opportunity for the Dodgers, compounded by bad luck on top of bad luck. And just for fun, some of the worst managerial decisions I've seen in a baseball game, much less a playoff game. But we'll try to keep Don Mattingly's Mr. Magoo-level bungling to a minimum here and focus on all of the things that went wrong or could have swung the first three Dodgers losses the other way.</p>
<h3>Game 1</h3>
<p>The Dodgers took a two-run lead in the third inning on a two-out, single by <span>Juan Uribe</span>. The Cardinals evened the score in the bottom of the inning on a two-run <span>Carlos Beltran</span> double and won in 13 innings on another RBI hit by Beltran.</p>
<p>1. But the Cardinals might not have scored at all in the third inning, which means the Dodgers very well could have won 2-0. Do you know how close that Beltran double came to being a long out?</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3440437/ethier.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Ethier_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3440437/ethier_medium.jpg"></a> <br id="1382488614800"></p>
<p>That close.</p>
<p><span>Andre Ethier</span> was playing center field and was essentially playing on a broken foot. <span>Skip Schumaker</span> -- who was at 100% -- very easily could have been starting in center field for the Dodgers in Game 1. If Schumaker starts ... or even if Ethier gets a half-step better jump on the ball, that ball is caught and the Dodgers win without having to tax their bullpen or go to extra innings.</p>
<p>But of course the Dodgers had ample opportunity to take the lead even after the game was tied.</p>
<p>2. Juan Uribe leads off the sixth inning with a single. The next three Dodgers are retired in order.</p>
<p>3. <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> leads off the eighth inning with a walk. He was (in)famously lifted for pinch-runner <span>Dee Gordon</span>, who was unable to attempt a steal OR advance, as <span>Yasiel Puig</span> grounded into a force out, then Uribe grounded into a double play.</p>
<p>4. In the top of the 10th, <span>Mark Ellis</span> hit a one-out triple. <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> was intentionally walked and <span>Michael Young</span> -- hitting in Gonzalez's spot in the lineup -- hit a fly ball into medium right field. Ellis was thrown out at the plate by several feet on a perfect throw by Beltran. If Young hits that ball 10 feet deeper -- or if he hits the ball to left or center field -- Ellis likely would have scored the go-ahead run. He didn't.</p>
<p>5. <span>Carl Crawford</span> leads off the twelfth inning with a single. Mark Ellis -- who had singled and tripled in the game -- was asked to lay down a bunt. Putting aside for a moment how ridiculously stupid bunts are in general, the next batter was Ramirez ... who had already been walked two innings prior so the Cardinals could pitch to Michael Young, who -- again -- was batting in Gonzalez's spot in the lineup. Ellis bunted Crawford to second. The Cardinals walked Ramirez to pitch to Young. Young grounded into a double play.</p>
<p>The Dodgers had no fewer than five opportunities to win Game 1. This doesn't include them having two runners on with two outs in the 11th inning. (<span>Nick Punto</span> struck out on a foul tip.)</p>
<h3>Game 2</h3>
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<a href="http://www.truebluela.com/videos/2013/10/24/5026408/yasiel-puig-video-little-league-practice">
<h2>Video: Yasiel Puig, sandlot superstar</h2>
<img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1881211/20131015_gav_usa_111.0_medium.jpg"></a> <span>Dodgers rookie outfielder Yasiel Puig took a brief detour on his way home from Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, and surprised a little league team at nearby Elysian Park.</span>
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<p>The Dodgers allowed two hits and two walks, got five hits and a walk, yet lost this game 1-0.</p>
<p>1. Clayton Kershaw leads off the inning with a single. Carl Crawford follows with a single. <span>Matt Carpenter</span> throws the ball away, allowing the runners to go to second and third. The Cardinals lead 1-0 at this point, but the Dodgers have two men on, no outs and the heart of their order coming up. Mark Ellis pops out to second base. Adrian Gonzalez is intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. This could have failed spectacularly for the Cardinals, particularly in a one-run game. All it would take would be a fly ball to tie it. Instead, Puig and Uribe strike out swinging.</p>
<h3>Game 4</h3>
<p><span>Ricky Nolasco</span> started this game for the Dodgers, while everyone poo-poohed the decision. Grienke or Kershaw could have started on short rest. They didn't. Nolasco had a rough second inning. He was pulled after the fourth despite retiring the side in the third. The Dodgers lost the game 4-2.</p>
<p>1. With two outs and a run in, Nolasco gave up a two-run homer to <span>Matt Holliday</span> in the top of the third. Holliday hit the first pitch he saw into the Dodgers bullpen. Nolasco made one bad pitch. If Holliday is retired -- in any number of ways -- the Dodgers could have won this game.</p>
<p>2. The Dodgers put two runs on the board in the fourth inning to bring the game to 3-2. If Holliday doesn't hit the home run, it would have been 2-1 Dodgers. With two men on and one out, Mattingly makes the call to replace Nolasco with pinch-hitter Schumaker. Schumaker grounds into a double play on the second pitch.</p>
<p>3. The Dodgers put runners on in the fifth and sixth innings. The sixth inning ends on a double play.</p>
<p>4. With another run in for the Cardinals on a <span>Shane Robinson</span> home run -- one of the unlikelier home runs in postseason history -- Nick Punto doubles with one out and the top of the order coming up. He is picked off at second base immediately.</p>
<p>5. Andre Ethier leads off the bottom of the ninth inning with a single. Yasiel Puig grounds into a double play and Juan Uribe strikes out swinging.</p>
<p>And this is all without even mentioning that Hanley Ramirez -- the Dodgers' hottest hitter entering the NLCS -- was hit in the ribs by a pitch in his first plate appearance of the series. His rib was broken and he played hurt for the next five games. If he's at full strength, it's a different series. Heck, if a 100% Nick Punto starts at shortstop over a 40% Ramirez, it's a different series. But we can only quantify what we saw. And it's clear the Dodgers were snakebit, mismanaged and BABIPed all the way home. The Cardinals outplayed them, certainly, but looking back on the series it seems it's a lot closer than we realized at the time.</p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/10/25/4867798/world-series-2013-dodgers-bad-breaks-2013-nlcsBill Hanstock2013-10-19T11:15:09-04:002013-10-19T11:15:09-04:00Cardinals' Allen Craig 1B 'ready' for World Series
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Craig has missed six weeks, but believes he could be a boon to the Cardinals as they seek a 12th World Series championship. </p> <p><a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Cardinals</a> first baseman believes he could be a positive contributor in <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series" class="sbn-auto-link">the World Series</a> if the team includes him on their roster, reports <a target="_blank" href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/article_77a4d7c5-c59b-57c8-b6aa-ecb12781fdb5.html">the St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a>.</p>
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<p>"If it's up to me, I’ll be there," Craig told reporters. "I’m ready. I feel I can help."</p>
<p>He took part in a simulated game Friday, taking what would have been 10 at-bats. Manager Mike Matheny said he looked good and that there were no evident signs of rust. Craig is expected to take one more round of batting before the Cardinals make a decision on his status for the World Series.</p>
<p>Craig has not played since Sept. 4 due to a Lisfranc injury. He was not included on the Cardinals' roster for either the Divisional Series or the Championship Series. General manager John Mozeliak said at the beginning of the postseason that while there was a chance Craig could compete in the playoffs, the odds were not in his favor.</p>
<p><span>Matt Adams</span> has played first base in Craig's absence, and was excellent in the NLDS before an awful performance in the NLCS against the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a>. Craig had been a steady bat for St. Louis all year, hitting .315 with an 830 OPS.</p>
<p>If the Cardinals do indeed have Craig on their World Series roster, he would almost certainly not play in the field. Instead, he would be utilized as a designated hitter in games taking place at the American League ballpark and as a pinch-hitter when in St. Louis.</p>
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<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/10/18/4854360/cardinals-dodgers-2013-nlcs-game-6-score-results?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">Cardinals close out Dodgers in 6</a> | <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/10/11/4828010/nlcs-2013-dodgers-cardinals?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">More NLCS coverage</a></p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2013/10/18/4848544/NLCS-2013-dodgers-cardinals-hate-hate-hate?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">Roth: You can’t hate the Dodgers</a></p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/10/19/4855322/allen-craig-injury-cardinals-world-seriesNoahCJ2013-10-19T08:00:07-04:002013-10-19T08:00:07-04:00Cardinals win NLCS, in GIF form
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<figcaption>Ed Zurga</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers were excited before Game 6 of the NLCS, but the optimism quickly went away thanks to a barrage of hits from the Cardinals.</p> <p>Almost everything about Game 6 of the National League Championship Series was unconventional.</p>
<p>From a standoff between players between the national anthem and the first pitch, to a severe pounding suffered by a perennial Cy Young candidate and an unbelievable performance from a rookie starting pitcher, it was a weird night in St. Louis.</p>
<p>But, one thing remained constant: one of the greatest postseason players of this era continued to produce on the big stage.</p>
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<b>More</b>: <a href="http://www.truebluela.com" target="new">True Blue LA (Dodgers)</a> <a href="http://www.vivaelbirdos.com" target="new">Viva El Birdos (Cardinals)</a>
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<p>A rare last man standing-type stare-down kicked things off on Friday night at Busch Stadium. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> outfielder <span>Scott Van Slyke</span> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> pitcher <span>Joe Kelly</span> refused to go back into the dugout after the pregame ceremonies, having some sort of 15 minute comedic staredown before home plate umpire Greg Gibson made the executive decision of forcing them off the field:</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1866767/stare-down.gif"><img alt="Stare-down_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1866767/stare-down_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>Although Van Slyke actually walked off the field first, Dodgers players celebrated the victory:</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1866773/10354314334_6cbe305eb3_o.gif"><img alt="10354314334_6cbe305eb3_o_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1866773/10354314334_6cbe305eb3_o.gif"></a></p>
<p>via <a target="_blank" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/gifs-dodgers-and-cardinals-had-a-bizarre-stand-off-prior-to-game-6-of-the-nlcs-2013-10">@corkgaines</a></p>
<p>That was clearly a bad omen for the immediate future.</p>
<p>After a couple of innings of inactivity, the Cardinals got on the board first when <span>Carlos Beltran</span> singled in <span>Matt Carpenter</span> and took second on a bad throw by <span>Yasiel Puig</span>:</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1866797/116.gif"><img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1866797/116_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="116_medium"></a></p>
<p>via <a href="https://twitter.com/WCBSports/status/391379485913669633" target="_blank">West Coast Bias Sports</a></p>
<p>The Cardinals were just getting started. After another run crossed the plate and Dodgers starter <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> loaded the bases, <span>Shane Robinson</span> came through with a two-run single to give his team an early commanding lead. <span>St. Louis' bats weren't done there, either. While the Dodgers continued to fail against rookie hurler </span><span>Michael Wacha</span><span>, the Cardinals continued to string together hit after hit. This one, an RBI double by </span><span>Matt Adams</span><span>, knocked Kershaw out of the game and increased the Cards' lead to 5-0:</span></p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1866833/45.gif"><img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1866833/45_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="45_medium"></a></p>
<p>via <a href="https://twitter.com/WCBSports/status/391379485913669633" target="_blank">West Coast Bias Sports</a></p>
<p>Kershaw gave up four or more runs in just four starts during the regular season and surrendered only five runs in his previous 46 innings of work entering Friday. But, he just can't figure out the Cards, losing his previous four starts against them before Game 6.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1866845/KershawStruggleFaceSTLNLCS6.gif"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1866845/KershawStruggleFaceSTLNLCS6_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Kershawstrugglefacestlnlcs6_medium"></a></p>
<p>via <a href="http://twitter.com/cjzero/status/391392447806189568" target="_blank">cjzero.com</a></p>
<p>While the Cardinals built a 9-0 lead, Wacha and the Cardinals' staff kept the Dodgers off the board for the remainder of the game, much to the chagrin of L.A.'s polarizing rookie phenom:</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1866857/PuigCardsCelebrateNLCS.gif"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1866857/PuigCardsCelebrateNLCS_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Puigcardscelebratenlcs_medium"></a></p>
<p>via <a href="https://twitter.com/cjzero/status/391406900828315648" target="_blank">cjzero.com</a></p>
<p>And that's how L.A.'s season ended.</p>
<p>Next up for the Cards is the winner of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Boston Red Sox</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Detroit Tigers</a> in Game 1 of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series">the World Series</a> on Wednesday.</p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/10/19/4854552/cardinals-dodgers-nlcs-game-6-gif-recapBryan Kilpatrick2013-10-19T00:11:23-04:002013-10-19T00:11:23-04:00Wacha earns MVP honors
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<figcaption>Elsa</figcaption>
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<p>The Cardinals' outstanding rookie hurler has allowed a grand total of one run in 21 postseason innings.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a> starting pitcher <span>Michael Wacha</span> was named the Most Valuable Player of the National League Championship Series after his team's series-clinching 9-0 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> on Friday.</p>
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<p>Wacha tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and a walk while striking out five.</p>
<p>The 22-year-old rookie did not allow a run in 13⅔ innings across two NLCS starts. He gave up seven hits and racked up 13 strikeouts against only two walks.</p>
<p>The impressive NLCS performance followed Wacha's key start in the Division Series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pittsburgh Pirates</a>.</p>
<p>Wacha did not allow a hit through 7⅓ innings in an elimination game before surrendering a solo home run to the final batter he faced. He finished the game with nine strikeouts.</p>
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<p>Wacha is the second Cardinals pitcher to be awarded the NLCS MVP, joining <span>Jeff Suppan</span> in 2006. He joins Mike Boddicker and Livan Hernandez as the only rookies to ever earn LCS MVP honors.</p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/10/19/4854492/michael-wacha-mvp-nlcs-cardinals-dodgersBryan Kilpatrick2013-10-18T23:37:43-04:002013-10-18T23:37:43-04:00The Cards are in the World Series
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<figcaption>Elsa</figcaption>
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<p>The Cardinals took control with a four-run third inning against Clayton Kershaw and never looked back.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a> pounded <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> ace <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> for seven runs in four innings en route to a 9-0 victory in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. The Cardinals advance to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series">the World Series</a> to face either the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Boston Red Sox</a> or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Detroit Tigers</a>.</p>
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<p>Kershaw, the favorite to win the NL Cy Young for the second time in three years, figured to be the guy to pitch the Dodgers into Game 7, but <span>Carlos Beltran</span> and the Cardinals had other ideas.</p>
<p>Beltran had three hits, including a double, and drove in a run against Kershaw. Beltran finished with two RBI.</p>
<p><span>Matt Carpenter</span> also doubled off of Kershaw on the final offering of an 11-pitch at-bat in the third to spark a four-run inning and <span>Matt Adams</span>' two-bagger in the fifth chased the 25-year-old left-hander from the game with the Cardinals leading, 5-0. Ronald Belisario allowed both runners he inherited from Kershaw to score in the five-run frame.</p>
<p>Kershaw entered the game having surrendered five total runs in his previous 46 innings, spanning seven starts. The loss was his <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/10/17/4848912/clayton-kershaw-dodgers-confidence-nlcs" target="_blank">fifth straight against the Cardinals</a>.</p>
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<p>While the Dodgers' star pitcher struggled, rookie <span>Michael Wacha</span> shined for the NL champions. The 22-year-old hurler allowed only three base runners in seven shutout innings. He struck out five and induced seven groundouts. In two NLCS starts, Wacha did not allow a run and racked up 13 strikeouts in 13⅔ innings.</p>
<p>The Cardinals' World Series appearance is their fourth in the past 10 seasons.</p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/10/18/4854360/cardinals-dodgers-2013-nlcs-game-6-score-resultsBryan Kilpatrick2013-10-18T22:55:41-04:002013-10-18T22:55:41-04:00Cardinals dominating Dodgers
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<figcaption>Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Redbirds are three innings away from clinching their second trip to the World Series in three years.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a> scored five runs in the fifth inning to extend their lead to 9-0 over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series.</p>
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<p>The Cardinals chased Dodgers starter <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> after <span>Matt Adams</span> doubled in <span>Yadier Molina</span>, who led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a fielding error by Yasiel Puig. Both of Kershaw's runners inherited by reliever Ronald Belisario scored, resulting in seven runs being charged to the NL Cy Young favorite.</p>
<p>Kershaw allowed 10 hits, which marks the third time in his career he's given up double-digit hits. The other two games were played at notoriously hitter-friendly Coors Field.</p>
<p><span>Carlos Beltran</span> leads all players with three hits and has driven in a pair of runs. Molina, Adams, <span>David Freese</span> and <span>Shane Robinson</span> have chipped in two hits apiece.</p>
<p>Cardinals starter <span>Michael Wacha</span> has surrendered two hits and a walk while notching four strikeouts in six scoreless innings.</p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/10/18/4854268/cardinals-dodgers-nlcs-game-6-scoreBryan Kilpatrick2013-10-18T22:43:56-04:002013-10-18T22:43:56-04:00NLCS umps unhappy with Puig
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<figcaption>Jeff Gross</figcaption>
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<p>The NLCS umps won't tolerate any more of Puig's antics, apparently.</p> <p>The National League Championship Series umpiring crew is unhappy with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> outfielder <span>Yasiel Puig</span>, <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20131018&content_id=63112940&notebook_id=63119602&vkey=notebook_la&c_id=la">according to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick</a>.</p>
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<p>The behavior of Puig, which includes his treatment of umpire Ted Barrett during an at-bat that ended in a strikeout in Game 5, resulted in a heated exchange between MLB executive Joe Torre, who oversees the crew, and Dodgers president Stan Kasten, per Gurnick.</p>
<p>MLB sent a memo to the Dodgers' clubhouse indicating that any showing up of umpires, especially by Puig, would not be tolerated, added Gurnick.</p>
<p>Puig didn't appear have any dust-ups with the crew through five innings of Game 6, and the 22-year-old rookie swiftly jogged back to the dugout after striking out in the second.</p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/10/18/4854184/yasiel-puig-umpires-nlcs-dodgers-cardinalsBryan Kilpatrick2013-10-18T22:09:36-04:002013-10-18T22:09:36-04:00Cards lead Dodgers, 4-0
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2gQ-l3zHhNkvaRJ-bgKdShOG-20=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/21388263/185335861.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dilip Vishwanat</figcaption>
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<p>A disastrous third inning for Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers has the Cardinals in control.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a> hold a 4-0 lead over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> through four innings in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series.</p>
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<p>After doubling in the first inning off of Dodgers starter <span>Clayton Kershaw</span>, <span>Carlos Beltran</span> added a single in the third to score <span>Matt Carpenter</span>, who began the rally with an 11-pitch at-bat that ended in a double. Beltran took second base on a bad throw by <span>Yasiel Puig</span> and scored on Yadier Molina's single up the middle two batters later.</p>
<p>The Cards picked up two more on Shane Robinson's two-out single after Kershaw loaded the bases with a walk to Matt Adams. By the time <span>Michael Wacha</span> struck out to end the inning, Kershaw had faced 10 batters and thrown 48 pitches.</p>
<p>Beltran nearly provided more fireworks in the fourth, driving a ball deep into left field that fell into the glove of <span>Carl Crawford</span> just shy of the wall.</p>
<p>Kershaw has surrendered four runs for just the fifth time in 36 total starts this season. He's allowed seven hits and a pair of walks while striking out five.</p>
<p>Wacha has given up a hit and a walk while registering three punch-outs.</p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/10/18/4854180/cardinals-dodgers-nlcs-game-6-scoreBryan Kilpatrick