All season long, the Los Angeles Dodgers have proven that no matter how many runs they are losing by in the late innings, they are never truly out of any game.
L.A. found themselves in one of those situations on Wednesday afternoon when as were shut out by the St. Louis Cardinals for eight innings and trailed 1-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth. The Dodgers once again did not panic and rallied for two runs off Cardinals closer Carlos Martinez to earn a 2-1 walk-off victory.
The win completed a series sweep for Los Angeles, which earned them a bit of redemption considering the Cardinals swept the four games played at Busch Stadium back in April.
Corey Seager got the rally started in the ninth when he was hit by a pitch. Will Smith then followed with a pinch-hit single to put two runners on. Smith has excelled in late-game situations for the Dodgers, going 6-for-7 with three home runs in the ninth inning since being called up.
After a wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position, it was Russell Martin who came through with the big hit: a two-run single up the middle to give the Dodgers a win. The Dodgers now have 10 walk-off victories on the season which is the most in baseball and ties how many they had during their magical 2017 season.
While Martin’s walk-off stole the headlines, the game was actually a pitcher’s duel between two young right-handers in Dustin May and Jack Flaherty.
In just his second career start, May had hitters baffled all day to the tune of 5.2 innings, five hits and one run allowed, while striking out seven and walking one. The only mistake he made was a fastball to Marcell Ozuna in the sixth inning that was hit out to straightaway center field to break up a scoreless tie.
The Dodgers bullpen was once again outstanding, keeping the Cardinals off the scoreboard the rest of the game. They tossed a combined 8.1 scoreless innings in the series.
