Atlanta on the brink
ST. LOUIS — Dansby Swanson hit a tying double with two outs in the ninth inning and Adam Duvall delivered a two-run single as the Atlanta Braves rallied past the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 on Sunday to take a 2-1 lead in the NL Division Series.
Atlanta had managed just four hits off Adam Wainwright and Andrew Miller before breaking through against closer Carlos Martinez. With two outs and runners on the corners, Swanson tied it at 1 with a drive off the wall in left.
“I think tonight was kind of like baseball in its purest form, with two guys that were tremendous on the mound, the pace of the game, just the ability to throw strikes, get ahead of hitters,” Swanson said. “I think their guy was awesome. Our guy was awesome. So being able to compete in a game like that is amazing.”
Swanson came through after an intentional walk to Brian McCann — Swanson’s .187 batting average with runners in scoring position was the lowest in the majors this year among qualified players.
St. Louis manager Mike Shildt chose the strategy after a meeting on the mound.
“(The) consensus was that rather take a shot at Swanson, 0-for-6 at that point with Carlos, clearly that's the go-ahead run you're putting on,” Shildt said. “But you have two outs, and we play to win. Everybody felt like that was the best matchup, including the guy on the mound. Took our shot. Didn't make
a pitch, and made him pay.”
Duvall, who entered as a pinch-hitter in the eighth, then hit a liner into center field to put the Braves ahead to stay. It was his second big hit of the series after he connected for a pinch-hit homer in Atlanta’s 3-0 victory Friday.
“This is what we play for all year, and so to come out with a win when you’re down in the ninth, that’s huge because every game’s a must-win game from here on out,” Duvall said. “So it’s important to get every one you can.”
Game 4 is Monday at Busch Stadium. Atlanta needs one more win to advance to the NL Championship Series for the first time since 2001.
This is the first time the Braves have led a postseason series since they were up 2-1 on San Francisco in the 2002 NLDS.
“I think our guys have done a really good job,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “Our bullpen's just been nails. (Mike) Soroka tonight was, my God, it was about as good as you can get. And we'll continue to do our game plan and what we do against them.
St. Louis wasted a terrific performance by Wainwright, who pitched 72⁄3 innings of four-hit ball in his first postseason start since 2014. The 38-year-old struck out eight and walked two in his first postseason start since 2014.