Cardinals rally to clinch series in LA behind Peralta's big hits
Jhonny Peralta's name might not be the one most people think of when it comes to the Cardinals' offense.
But he's been leading the way often this season, especially since moving up into the cleanup spot to replace injured first baseman Matt Adams. Peralta broke a significant home-run drought in the sixth inning and drove home the game-winning run in the eighth of a 4-2 series-clinching win at Los Angeles on Sunday night.
St. Louis entered the game as the only team without a home run in June and hadn't scored for 15 innings prior to Peralta's 410-foot blast to left field off Zack Greinke in the sixth inning. The shortstop also hit the Cardinals' final home run in May, a two-run shot in the first inning of last Sunday's 3-1 win over Los Angeles at Busch Stadium.
Peralta moved into sole possession of the team lead with nine home runs, one ahead of third baseman Matt Carpenter. After getting three hits in four at-bats Sunday, Peralta also leads the team with a .321 average and 34 RBIs.
His production has been critical for an offense averaging fewer than three runs per game over its past 10, despite a pair of seven-run outbursts earlier this week. Nonetheless, they've combined great pitching with timely hitting to win seven times, including five of seven against the National League-West leading Dodgers.
3 UP
• Lynn battles. Lance Lynn clearly didn't have his best stuff against a dangerous Dodgers lineup ranked third in the NL in runs.
Still, the right-hander limited LA to two runs in five innings while striking out five. He threw 98 pitches and turned in perhaps his most impressive work in the final inning, retiring Yasiel Puig, Adrian Gonzalez and Justin Turner in order to strand runners on first and second.
Watch the Missouri Lottery Cardinals Live postgame show on FOX Sports Midwest after every St. Louis Cardinals postseason game.
• Lights-out bullpen. The league's best bullpen went four innings for the first time since May 18, turning in another dominant performance.
Mitch Harris walked one and gave up a two-out single to Jimmy Rollins in the sixth, but no Dodgers would reach base the rest of the way. Kevin Siegrist struck out the side in the seventh, then Randy Choate and Matt Belisle combined for a perfect eighth before Trevor Rosenthal finished the game for his 19th save.
• Cruz steps up. Catcher Tony Cruz made the most of a rare opportunity to start with his first multi-hit game since Aug. 2, 2014.
Yadier Molina took the day off for the first time since May 21. But the Cardinals couldn't take advantage of Cruz's two singles, leaving him on third base in the fifth inning and on first in the seventh.
3 DOWN
• Jay's struggles continue. St. Louis keeps waiting for center fielder Jon Jay to return to form since coming back from a wrist injury. He went 0 for 4 with a strikeout Sunday and has only three hits in 22 at-bats since coming off the disabled list.
• Lynn labors. Inefficiency may not have been the only thing bothering the Cardinals' strikeout leader Sunday night. Lynn appeared to be dealing with some health issues in the final two innings of his shortest start since April. TV cameras showed manaager Mike Matheny speaking to Lynn on the bench after the fourth inning, and he briefly went back into the clubhouse with the St. Louis trainer.
• Heyward's streak ends. Jason Heyward went 0 for 4 to end a season-long eight-game hit streak. The big right fielder went 10 for 27 (.370) with a double and four RBIs during that stretch.
You can follow Luke Thompson on Twitter at @FS_LukeT or email him at lukegthompson87@gmail.com.
