There’s truly nothing like October baseball.
Wednesday’s National League Wild Card Game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers proved to be no exception. Outfielder Chris Taylor hit a walk-off home run to drive in Cody Bellinger and advance the Dodgers to the NLDS to face the San Francisco Giants, who won this year’s NL West race by one game.
Taylor became the fifth player in MLB postseason history to hit a walk-off homer in a winner-take-all game.
Prior to Wednesday? Edwin Encarnación last achieved the feat to cap the 2016 AL Wild Card.
The Dodgers entered the wild card game with a few notable feats to consider.
For starters, they are making their ninth straight postseason appearance, the third-longest postseason streak of all time, after winning 106 regular-season games. No team in MLB history has ever won more games and not finished in first place in its division or league. Their 106 wins also are tied for the second most all time by a reigning champion, trailing only the 1931 Philadelphia Athletics.
On the other hand, the Cardinals’ winding road to the postseason looked much different. On Aug. 6, when their playoff odds reached a low of 1.3%, according to FanGraphs. In September, those odds jumped to just 5%, following their 17-game winning streak. St. Louis’ 21-6 record in September powered their playoff run after sitting just four games over .500 from April to August.
The unique stretch runs by both teams paved the way for an exciting finish as the Dodgers continue their title defense.
This Wild Card matchup marked the first time in postseason history in which each starting pitcher’s team has won in his last eight-plus starts.
The Cardinals entered it having won 13 of Adam Wainwright‘s past 14 starts, including eight consecutive such victories. The Dodgers are now undefeated in St. Louis native Max Scherzer‘s 12 starts since being traded away from the Washington Nationals in July.
That said, Scherzer also lasted only 4 1/3 innings against St. Louis Wednesday, signaling his second shortest stint with his new team. Let’s examine a few of the most notable moments from the NL wild-card action.
In good company
On Wednesday evening, Nationals All-Star Juan Soto made a surprise appearance at Dodger Stadium to support his former teammates, Trea Turner and Scherzer.
The trio won the 2019 World Series together when the Nationals topped the Houston Astros 4-3. Soto and his hitting coach, Kevin Long, appropriately wore Turner and Scherzer Nationals jerseys.
.@JuanSoto25_ is at Dodger Stadium repping a @treavturner jersey ❤️ pic.twitter.com/jfS30fjAa2
— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2021
Soto also had to remind the home crowd that he was on its side.
Juan Soto was booed upon being shown on the JumboTron in between innings, so he turned around to point to his Trea Turner jersey and pumped his fist as the crowd howled.
Juan Soto is a good vibe.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) October 7, 2021
LETS GO MAX!!! LEST GO MAX!!! 🥶🥶 pic.twitter.com/IUpF1vUq1T
— Juan José Soto Pacheco (@JuanSoto25_) October 7, 2021
Local legends Magic Johnson and Eric Dickerson, who enjoyed Hall of Fame careers with the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Rams, also were present for the showdown.
LET’S GO @Dodgers! ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/RdKfdrXDeh
— Eric Dickerson (@EricDickerson) October 7, 2021
Breaking the shutout
Unfortunately for Dodgers fans (including Soto), the Cardinals managed to get on the board first, and Wainwright’s reflexes were on full display.
Well, would you look at that! pic.twitter.com/ztQqgDFS18
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) October 7, 2021
Getting even
The Dodger’s first score of the night was courtesy of Justin Turner, extending his own postseason franchise record to 13 home runs. Turner launched a curveball from Wainwright to the back of L.A.’s bullpen and evened the score at 1-1 in the fourth inning.
JTIED IT UP! pic.twitter.com/etWJoRX3SB
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 7, 2021
Snapping the scoring drought and going home
Prior to Taylor’s walk-off hit, Bellinger stole second as catcher Yadier Molina struggled to grip the ball in time. The Dodgers’ victory gave the team its 16th straight at home, extending the longest such streak in franchise history.
It’s the longest home winning streak by any MLB team since the 2004 Houston Astros won 19 straight (including playoffs).
Looking ahead to the Giants, the 2,535 games played between these rivals are the most in MLB history between opponents before squaring off in the postseason.
Taylor-made ending. pic.twitter.com/sQviI5S0fr
— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2021
Chris Taylor (+550) hits a walk-off HR and the Dodgers advance to the NLDS against the Giants with a 3-1 win over the Cardinals.
LAD Money Line -219 ✔️
LAD Run Line -1.5 (-110) ✔️pic.twitter.com/9Hgv9sKbaH— Caesars Sportsbook (@CaesarsSports) October 7, 2021
Dodger Nation, tonight’s the night that our @Dodgers take on the Cardinals!! Let’s have Dodgers Stadium rocking! ⚾️💙
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) October 6, 2021
I want to thank Dodger Nation and all of the @Dodgers fans in the stadium tonight for being loud, energetic, and willing the Dodgers to victory!!!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) October 7, 2021
YEAHH @Dodgers ❕ #RepeatLA pic.twitter.com/vlPkXfDx26
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) October 7, 2021
This is what happens when you play your Cards right. pic.twitter.com/YgVymHVpor
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 7, 2021
For the very first time, the @Dodgers and @SFGiants will meet in the #postseason.
CAN’T WAIT. #MakeItMajor pic.twitter.com/LqhPJwzVpW
— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2021
ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this story.
