Dodgers beat Cardinals in dramatic game

Excitement, nerves and drama unfolded Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium for the National League wild card game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals. The Angelenos won 3-1, breaking a tie until the bottom of the ninth on a two-run home run by Chris Taylor to knock off the opposition.

“(I was) A little nervous because it was a tight game, but we had faith in our players, we were focused on cheering for the team and it went our way,” said pitcher Brusdar Graterol, who took the mound for one inning.

Dodgers had to rely on the bullpen to keep the visitors’ offense at bay with six different pitchers.

“Since (the manager) gave me the opportunity, let’s give it all I can give,” was what went through Graterol’s mind when he was called upon to pitch.

Unlike last year in the wild card round, in a different format due to the pandemic in which the Angels played two games at home against the Milwaukee Brewers with an empty stadium, now Dodger Stadium experienced an unbeatable atmosphere with a full house. More than 53,000 spectators cheered on their team and witnessed a thrilling victory.

“I don’t know how to say it, it was incredible, the important thing was that we won,” added the Venezuelan baseball player.

Now, the Dodgers will start the Divisional Series against the San Francisco Giants on Friday, in a great West Coast rivalry. Giants and Dodgers were the two teams with the best record in the MLB regular season, with 107 and 106 wins respectively.

“It will be seen when we are with them on the field, they are a good team too, just like us and we are here to win just like them,” finished Graterol.

Mexican Julio Urías would open from the mound on Saturday for Game 2 of the Series against Giants in San Francisco, and Walker Buhler would be in the first, while Max Scherzer, tonight’s pitcher against Cardinals, would reappear on Monday for Game 3 when the series returns to Los Angeles.