MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers 3, St. Louis 2

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Mark Loretta's bases-loaded ninth-inning single to center capped a bizarre rally Thursday and gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 3-2 playoff victory over St. Louis.

The Dodgers took advantage of a huge mistake by St. Louis left fielder Matt Holliday to score twice in the ninth and grab a 2-0 advantage in their National League Division Series. Los Angeles will attempt to finish a sweep when action resumes in St. Louis Saturday.

The Cardinals appeared ready to even the series when they took a one-run lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Trever Miller relieved Adam Wainwright, who gave up just three hits over eight outstanding innings, and promptly retired Andre Ethier and Manny Ramirez. That brought up James Loney, who lifted a soft fly ball to left that seemed destined to end the game. Holliday trotted in to make the play, but he misjudged the flight of the ball as he attempted to make a basket catch. The ball missed his glove entirely, hit him in the stomach and bounced away as Holliday was stumbling and falling on his face.

Loney reached second on the error and then Casey Blake walked at the end of a nine-pitch at bat. Ronnie Belliard followed with a single that scored pinch-runner Juan Pierre with the tying run. After a passed ball moved the runners to second and third Russell Martin walked to load the bases and Loretta then delivered his game-winning hit -- bringing the Dodgers dashing out of their dugout to celebrate the unlikely victory.

George Sherrill was credited with the win after working the top of the ninth for LA.

Holliday and Ethier traded solo homers to create a 1-1 tie through four innings and St. Louis scored in the seventh on an RBI double by Colby Rasmus.