Dodgers Sink Cardinals 3-2 in Dramatic Fashion

Randy Newman's "I Love L.A." is definitely not on Tony La Russa's iPod. Nor Matt Holliday's.

The Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off a Hollywood ending in game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Cardinals, defeating them 3-2 with two out in the ninth inning. The Dodgers now have a 2-0 lead in the pivotal best-of-five series.

The St. Louis Cardinals took a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After Cardinal relievers got dangerous Andre Ethier and Manny Ramirez out on fly outs, it all looked like a routine ninth inning shutdown. Then, the Dodgers rally happened.

Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday botched a line drive out off the bat of James Loney, resulting in a fielding error and Loney being able to reach second base on the play. Juan Pierre pinch-ran for Loney, and Ronnie Belliard singled, bringing Pierre in as the tying runner. A passed ball and a walk later, Mark Loretta drove in Belliard with a single.

The Cardinals had the Dodgers on the ropes the entire game, with an exceptional performance by probable Cy Young winner Adam Wainwright. Wainwright allowed 1 run and 3 hits over 8 innings, with 7 strikeouts, the lone run being an Andre Ethier home run in the 4th inning.

Wainwright's adversary in the pitching duel had a notable night himself. Through 6 2/3 innings, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw kept the potent Cardinals offense to 2 runs, pitching himself out of a few threatened rallies.

In the ninth inning, Cardinals skipper Tony La Russa lifted Wainwright for a ninth inning platoon to face the heart of the Dodgers lineup. Trever Miller pitched Andre Ethier into a pop up, then was lifted for Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin. Franklin induced a Manny Ramirez fly out, and it all looked business as usual, until the colossal meltdown.

The game-losing fielding error felt familiar to the infamous Cubs' meltdown involving fan Steve Bartman in 2003. The Cubs kept botching enough plays in that inning to eventually let the game slip away from them, with the Florida Marlins taking advantage.

For Tony La Russa, it's got to feel like 1988 all over again. With his Oakland Athletics winning game one of the World Series by one run, La Russa's Hall of Fame stopper Dennis Eckersley gave up an improbable walkoff home run to hobbled Dodger Kirk Gibson, again in Dodger Stadium.

The Cardinals will be more than happy to be returning to St. Louis for the next two (if necessary) games of the Division Series. One question will be the reception of Matt Holliday, a player the Cardinals traded for midseason and bolstered the offense as a one-two punch with Albert Pujols. Will this error be forgiven by fans if the Cardinals don't make a dramatic comeback?

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Game stats were provided by Yahoo! Sports