ST. LOUIS, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- David Freese drove in four runs Wednesday, boosting St. Louis to a 5-3 win over Philadelphia and extending their playoff series to the limit.
The Cardinals survived an elimination contest and will meet the Phillies Friday in the fifth and deciding game of the National League Division series in Philadelphia.
St. Louis found itself in a quick 2-0 hole when Chase Utley delivered an RBI triple in the first and scored on a single by Hunter Pence. The Cardinals got a run back in the bottom of the first but Philadelphia starter Roy Oswalt limited St. Louis to only one base runner over the next two innings.
Oswalt, however, walked Lance Berkman to open the fourth and then hit Matt Holliday with a pitch. After Yadier Molina flew out to right, Freese hit Oswalt's first pitch deep to left for a double that brought home both runners.
Related
Freese next came up in the sixth with two outs and Holliday on first. He slammed a 1-0 offering from Oswalt over the wall in center to give the Cardinals a 5-2 lead.
St. Louis then survived a fluke hit in the eighth inning that could easily have led to the end of its season.
With a runner on second and one away, Utley hit a grounder to first that appeared likely to be an easy out. The ball, however, hit the bag and hopped high in the air -- and by the time it came down it was too late for first baseman Albert Pujols to throw Utley out, and the Phillies suddenly had runners on first and third.
Fernando Salas then retired Pence on a groundout that brought home one run and Marc Rzepczynski came on to strike out Ryan Howard on three pitches to end the threat.
Edwin Jackson, obtained by the Cardinals from the Chicago White Sox during the season, started and got the win by allowing two runs on five hits in six innings.
Jason Motte struck out one in a perfect ninth for his second save of the series.
Chris Carpenter will start Friday's game for the Cardinals. Roy Halladay, who already has one win in the series, will work for the Phillies.
