Hitting five home runs to set a National League division series record, the Cardinals rolled to an 8-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium on Tuesday afternoon to win the opener of their best-of-five-game series.
St. Louis played with the confidence and swagger of a team that had the best record in baseball (105-57) during the regular season, while leading the league in batting average, runs scored and slugging percentage.
Larry Walker, who was acquired in August in a trade with the Colorado Rockies, hit two home runs. Albert Pujols, a leading candidate for the Most Valuable Player award, added a solo blast. And Jim Edmonds and Mike Matheny homered as well, giving Woody Williams a comfortable cushion; he was the winning pitcher after surrendering just two runs in six innings.
This is what the Dodgers had feared, an offensive outburst from a team with far superior firepower. If this series turns into a hitting contest, it could become one-sided.
''To get involved with this club, and to think that you're going to win a slugfest with them, is a little bit of a far-fetched idea,'' said Jim Tracy, the Dodgers' manager.
The Dodgers failed to do that, as Odalis Perez surrendered five runs in the third inning. The rally began with two outs and nobody on base, an indication of just how quickly the Cardinals can strike.
St. Louis already led, 1-0, after Pujols' homer in the first inning. The rally in the third began with Walker hitting a blast deep over the right-field fence, which gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.
Walker's swing seemed to ignite the Cardinals' offense like lighter fluid on a barbecue grill. Pujols singled. Scott Rolen walked. Edgar Renteria doubled down the left-field line, scoring Pujols and Rolen, and the Cardinals' lead grew to 4-0.
Perhaps Perez was rattled at that point But his next pitch was costly. He left a ball over the plate that Edmonds could handle, and he did not miss it, sending it over the fence in right field for his eighth career postseason homer. That quickly, the Cardinals were in command, 6-0, and Perez was headed to the showers.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
CARDINALS 8
DODGERS 3
