LOS ANGELES — Once Zack Greinke escaped Wednesday’s first inning, the rest was relatively easy.
The Dodgers right-hander loaded the bases with nobody out after taking the mound for Game 5 of the NLCS, but somehow lived to tell.
Greinke struck out Matt Adams before getting Yadier Molina to hit into a double play. A walk to Carlos Beltran sandwiched between singles by Matt Carpenter and Matt Holliday had the Cardinals in position to inflict early damage.
“I was real nervous out there with that situation and trying to make a good pitch and get Adams to chase and get him into a double play,” Greinke said after the Dodgers stayed alive with a 6-4 victory over the Cardinals. “Then Molina, I know if you hit on the ground there there’s a good chance it’s either going to be a hit or a double play. Risky going in, bases loaded because he could do some damage. It worked out.”
Greinke allowed two runs in the third, but finished his performance by retiring the last 13 batters he faced.
According to multiple reports, the Dodgers are set to pick up manager Don Mattingly’s option for next year. Mattingly’s three-year contract with the club expires after this season.
Brian Wilson’s shutout eighth extended his postseason scoreless streak to begin his career to 17 ²/₃ innings. It is the third-longest such streak in major league history, behind John Rocker (20 ²/₃) and Joe Niekro (20).
The four homers by the Dodgers were their most in a postseason game since Game 1 of the NLCS in 1978 against the Phillies. The Dodgers also hit four homers in Game 4 of the 1977 World Series against the Yankees.