National Baseball League

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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
LOS ANGELES DODGERS AT SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
October 14th, 1918 – Division Series, Game 1

It was a crisp, overcast afternoon at Oracle Park in San Francisco, a setting befitting a pitching duel — though what unfolded was anything but routine. The San Francisco Giants, led by the masterful right-hander Vinny Luevanos, imposed their will on the Los Angeles Dodgers, shutting them out, 12–0, to take the first game of this best-of-five Division Series.

Luevanos’ performance was one for the record books. Over nine innings, he allowed only three hits, walked none, and struck out a single batter — a demonstration of both precision and poise. It’s the kind of complete-game effort that reminds you why baseball, at its best, can feel almost timeless.

Offensively, the Giants were relentless. A five-run fifth inning, capped by a grand slam from Ramon Ocasio, set the tone. Ocasio’s swing, measured and decisive, drove in five runs and punctuated the Giants’ early control of the game. But it wasn’t just the long ball — contributions came across the lineup, from triples by A. Baca to timely doubles by C. Rudeseal, to ensure that the Dodgers had little opportunity to mount a comeback.

For Los Angeles, there were glimpses of resistance. R. Calzolai and M. Ozuna registered hits, but the pitching of Luevanos, combined with the opportunistic fielding of the Giants, left the Dodgers unable to translate those moments into runs.

Attendance for the afternoon’s contest was 44,871, a testament to both the importance of the series and the enduring allure of Major League Baseball, even in the fall of 1918. Conditions were cool and cloudy, with a wind from left at 12 mph, adding a subtle strategic element for hitters and pitchers alike.

With Game 1 now in the books, the Giants carry momentum, a complete-game shutout, and the confidence that comes from dominating a top-tier opponent on their home turf. The Dodgers, meanwhile, will return to the drawing board, seeking adjustments as this series shifts toward its next chapter.

Player of the Game: Vinny Luevanos.

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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
SAN DIEGO PADRES AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
October 15th, 1918 – Division Series, Game 2

In the shadowed calm of Busch Stadium, the St. Louis Cardinals asserted their dominance over the visiting San Diego Padres, claiming a 6–3 victory that now places them one step from the League Championship Series. The performance, while decisive, was a study in balance: timely hitting, disciplined pitching, and strategic execution.

Left-hander Dave Rady delivered a commanding 7-inning effort, allowing six hits and just two runs. His composure on the mound, the quiet precision of each pitch, set the tone for the Cardinals. It’s the kind of performance that doesn’t demand applause—it commands respect.

Offensively, the Cardinals struck early. Jaylin Gaddy, the shortstop with the instincts of a predator and the agility of a shadow, delivered a run-scoring triple in the second inning and would go on to steal two bases. Gaddy later described the win as “a lesson in teamwork,” and indeed, every at-bat, every stolen base, and every timely swing reflected a collective focus, a cohesion that is hard to teach but easy to recognize.

Home runs from G. Stretton, J. Crosse, and S. Bosquez punctuated the Cardinals’ steady offensive assault, while contributions from Murrone, Arispe, and Stretton ensured that the Padres could not mount a sustained response. For San Diego, there were flashes of resistance—Packwood, Torres, Moreno—but they were never able to shift the momentum.

The crowd, 48,269 strong, witnessed a game played under partly cloudy skies at a comfortable 59 degrees, with a gentle wind blowing in from right at 11 mph. It was the kind of setting where subtlety matters, where timing and precision can decide the outcome as much as power.

Game 3 will shift back to PETCO Park in San Diego, Thursday, October 17th, as the Padres attempt to reclaim the balance of this series. For now, St. Louis moves forward, quiet yet unmistakably formidable.

Player of the Game: Dave Rady

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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
LOS ANGELES DODGERS AT SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
October 15th, 1918 – Division Series, Game 2

Well, folks, this was a pitchers’ duel that came down to a single run, and if you blinked, you might’ve missed it. The Dodgers managed to escape Oracle Park with a 1–0 win over the Giants, and Mike Perez was the man of the hour. At 36 years old, he’s got the experience, he’s got the craft, and today he showed why veteran poise matters in October baseball.

Perez went 7 innings, giving up only 2 hits, no runs, striking out 4. What struck me was how he kept his composure in those high-leverage spots. There were a couple of moments in the fifth and sixth where the Giants threatened, and Perez just made pitches — fastballs up, sliders down, changeups that froze hitters. That’s a pitcher who knows how to control a game.

Offensively, the Dodgers didn’t need much. D. Wallace delivered the lone RBI with a clutch single in the eighth, and that was all it took. G. Barry added some spark on the basepaths with a stolen base, but really, this was about Perez and the Dodgers’ defense, which made every play count. You could see the focus — every grounder, every pop-up, handled with precision.

The Giants did manage a few hits — C. Rudeseal had a pair of doubles — but they just couldn’t push a run across. Credit to the Dodgers’ pitching and timely defensive positioning. This is playoff baseball, right? You don’t need fireworks every night; sometimes you just need one run and a guy on the mound who can get outs when it counts.

Game 3 now shifts to Dodger Stadium on Thursday, and the series is tied 1–1. The Dodgers will look to carry this momentum home, while the Giants will try to adjust and find a way to scratch a run or two. If Perez pitches again, you know they’ll feel pretty confident — he’s the kind of veteran who can change a series with one sharp outing.

Player of the Game: Mike Perez

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Ohhh, Nevarez, I don’t even know where to start! I mean, come on! The guy gets called in, it’s the eighth inning, runners on, game on the line, and what does he do? He folds! Just folds like a cheap lawn chair in the rain! Yankees tied 3-3, and you bring in Nevarez? Are you kidding me?!

Look, I get it, everyone has off days. But this isn’t a little league game, this is the freakin’ playoffs at Yankee Stadium! And Eric Rehfeld? Three hits, two RBIs, a double to put the Sox ahead? That’s the kind of clutch hitting you dream about in October, and Nevarez just handed it to him! He couldn’t locate a pitch to save his life — fly ball here, double there — it’s like he didn’t even have a game plan.

The White Sox, on the other hand, they came to play. Centeno, Rehfeld, Satterwhite — everybody contributing. And D. Mendez? Seven innings, three earned, only one walk. That’s veteran poise! That’s how you win a playoff game on the road!

But Nevarez? TERRIBLE job. Absolutely horrible. You can’t give up three runs in two innings in a situation like that and expect to survive in October baseball! He even gives up a home run to Willie Cortez of all people. I mean, c’mon, come on!

The Sox take Game 3, now they’re up 2-1 in the series, and the Yankees? They’re left scratching their heads and asking, “What the hell happened in the eighth?” I’ll tell you what happened — Nevarez happened. And that’s why, folks, pitching changes matter, clutch situations matter, and some guys just don’t show up when it counts.

Mad Dog is screaming right now. Because that? That was unacceptable. Unreal. Terrible.

Player of the Game? Eric Rehfeld, hands down. Nevarez? Forget it.

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Ladies and gentlemen, what a night for the Texas Rangers! Here at Camden Yards, your Rangers are on the verge of knocking off the defending World Series champion Baltimore Orioles, taking Game 3 by a 5-2 score and now up 2-1 in the Division Series. I tell you, folks, this is playoff baseball at its finest!

Chris Neidich was absolutely masterful on the mound tonight. Seven innings, four hits, two earned, and four strikeouts. He kept the Orioles guessing all night long, mixing his fastball, breaking stuff, and just painting the corners like a pro. That’s the kind of performance you need when you’re on the road in October, and Neidich delivered.

The Rangers’ bats got it done when it mattered most. Danny Martinez came through in the fifth inning, runners on first and third with one out — he lines a single to left-center, drives in a run, and suddenly the Rangers take a 3-2 lead. That’s clutch hitting right there, and he wasn’t the only one. Petesch, Brunke, Urquiola — they all got in on the action. Urquiola with a home run in the second to get the scoring started, Petesch with a key RBI later in the game, and Brunke adding a double in the seventh. These guys are in sync, and it showed tonight.

Baltimore tried to respond — J. Hyland with a two-run shot in the fourth to tie it at 2 — but the Rangers answered, never letting the defending champs take control. And when H. Rodriguez came in for the save, he shut the door completely, two innings of perfect relief to finish it off.

Folks, this is the kind of road win that sets the tone in a playoff series. The Rangers are playing confident, disciplined baseball, and they’re giving Baltimore everything they’ve got. The next game, right here at Camden Yards tomorrow, could very well put Texas on the doorstep of the League Championship Series.

Player of the Game? Chris Neidich, no question about it. But this was a team effort from the Rangers — timely hitting, smart baserunning, and solid defense.

For those tuning in, stay glued to your seats. This Rangers team is making a statement, and the Orioles are going to have to dig deep if they want to stay alive in this series. I tell ya, it doesn’t get much better than this!

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Chicago White Sox: 4th ALCS berth
1912 1915 1916 1918

MERCY! The Chicago White Sox, your Chicago White Sox, are heading to the American League Championship Series! Put it on the board — YES!
A 1-0 nail-biter over the New York Yankees, and I’ll tell you what, Hawk Harrelson here would be struttin’ around the booth if I was there. Hugo Avalos, complete game, four-hitter, didn’t blink an inch. That’s a bulldog performance if I’ve ever seen one. You talk about pounding the strike zone, getting quick outs, letting your defense work — that’s old-school White Sox baseball, and Hugo flat-out dealt today.

Eric Rehfeld? The kid’s been nothing short of sensational this whole series. You want an MVP? You’re lookin’ at him. Hitting .533 in the Division Series, driving in runs, scoring runs, doing everything but selling hot dogs out there. Today he scores the only run of the ballgame, hustling and making it count. That’s called leading by example, partner.

And how about the defense? Villa with the outfield assist, everybody locked in, nobody giving New York an inch. That’s how you win in October. You gotta beat good teams by doing the little things right — and today, the Sox did ‘em all.

Folks, this is just the 4th time in franchise history — 1912, 1915, 1916, and now 1918 — that the White Sox are heading to the ALCS. That’s rarified air, partner. You take a moment, tip your cap, and soak it in.

Now, we don’t know who the Sox will face — Texas or Baltimore. But I’ll tell you what, whoever it is, they better pack a lunch, because this White Sox club is comin’ hard. Pitchers are pitchin’, hitters are hittin’, and this team’s got some serious moxie.

So chalk it up, White Sox fans — WE are going to the American League Championship Series!

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Well… this is a tough one.
The Yankees’ season is over. A 1-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium, and with that, New York is eliminated from the Division Series. There’s really no sugarcoating it. The offense simply didn’t show up. Four hits all afternoon, and never really a serious threat. When you get that kind of pitching from Luis Ortiz, when he battles through seven-plus innings and keeps the game right there, you have to find a way to support him. The Yankees never did.

And now, you take a step back and realize the weight of it: this franchise, with all of its history, all of its expectations, has not been to the League Championship Series since 1913. Think about that. Five years now. The White Sox, meanwhile, are moving on to their fourth ALCS appearance in team history — 1912, 1915, 1916, and now here in 1918.

Yankee fans, I know this is bitter. You wait all season, you dream about October glory, and it ends in a quiet afternoon, the bats silenced, the crowd leaving stunned. This is not what anyone envisioned.

Eric Rehfeld of Chicago gets the series MVP, deservedly so — he was a force at the plate and scored the only run in this deciding game. Hugo Avalos was magnificent on the mound, a complete game shutout in one of the toughest ballparks to pitch in. That’s the story: Chicago did everything right, New York did not.

It’s disappointment, it’s frustration, it’s the end of the road. The Yankees’ quest to return to the heights of October goes on hold again. And until they break through, the questions will only get louder.

The Yankees’ season is over.

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Hello there, everybody — this is Mel Allen, and how about that!

On a crisp October afternoon at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the Baltimore Orioles, facing elimination, rose to the occasion with a stirring 5–2 victory over the Texas Rangers to even the Division Series at two games apiece. The fans, 43,719 strong, were in full throat, and my, oh my, did they ever have plenty to cheer about.

The star of the day was Zach Guckian, the right-hander who coolly delivered seven solid innings, scattering six hits and yielding just a pair of runs. He bent but never broke, and when he needed an out, he got it. Player of the Game honors belong to him — and deservedly so.

Baltimore found its offensive spark in unexpected ways. In the fourth inning, with the bases full, Salvatore Valdez was plunked by a pitch, forcing home a run to tie things up. Not the most glamorous RBI, but just as important as any. Then came young second baseman Bill Hemphill, who lashed a double to ignite another rally. And in the sixth inning, the Orioles struck again — Alejandro Papin and Pedro Huerta both smacking doubles to plate two more.

The capper came in the seventh, when center fielder Sergio Herrera lofted a majestic drive over the wall in right for a solo home run. That ball soared into the autumn sky and seemed to lift the spirits of the entire city of Baltimore with it.

Texas tried to claw back, with Danny Martinez cracking a two-run homer in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough. The Rangers were left chasing all afternoon, and they’ll have to regroup quickly.

So now, ladies and gentlemen, this spirited series comes down to a decisive Game 5 in Texas on Saturday. One game, winner take all, to decide who moves on to the League Championship Series.

And friends, what drama awaits us! Baltimore looking to continue its march toward a fifth World Series crown, while the Rangers seek to fend them off and write their own October chapter.

Yes indeed, playoff baseball never fails to deliver. One game left to settle it all — and how about that!

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St. Louis Cardinals: 6th NLCS berth
1906 1907 1908 1912 1915 1918

Hello there, everybody — this is Mel Allen, and how about that!
The Redbirds are flying high once again, as the St. Louis Cardinals have punched their ticket to the National League Championship Series! Yes indeed, with a 5–3 victory in eleven hard-fought innings over the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park, the Cardinals have swept their way through the Division Series and are headed to the LCS for the sixth time in their history.

And friends, it’s been quite a while. Not since 1915 — three years ago, when they captured their one and only World Series crown — have the Cardinals made it this far. Now, here in 1918, they’ll get another crack at October glory.

The hero of this series? None other than shortstop Jaylin Gaddy. What a performance! Hitting .429, sparking rallies, and delivering clutch hits, he was as steady as the Gateway Arch is tall. In this game, he set the tone early with a double in the first, and later drove in two key runs. And in the eleventh inning, it was catcher J. Crosse and designated hitter J. Seiler who came through with back-to-back extra-base knocks to push the Redbirds over the top.

The Padres battled gamely, outhitting St. Louis 13–9, but leaving thirteen runners stranded proved costly. San Diego’s I. Canal just couldn’t slam the door in the late innings, while the Cardinals bullpen, led by J. Hernandez’s three scoreless frames, stood tall under the bright October sun.

So, the Cardinals march on. Their next opponent is still to be decided — either the Dodgers or the Giants, deadlocked at a game apiece. Whoever it is, St. Louis is ready, and the city by the Mississippi can dream once again of a pennant — and maybe, just maybe, a second World Series crown.

Yes sir, the Cardinals are moving on — and how about that!

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Well, hello there, everybody — this is Mel Allen, and how about that!

On a golden October afternoon at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants played the kind of ballgame that makes baseball the greatest drama on earth. For nine innings, goose eggs across the board, tension mounting with every pitch, as two proud franchises locked horns in a playoff classic.

The story for Los Angeles began on the mound with Raul Vasquez. Oh, my, what a performance! Seven innings, no runs, working out of jam after jam, and giving the Dodgers every chance to stay alive in this one. The crowd of 48,487 hung on every delivery, and Vasquez gave them plenty to cheer about.

On the other side, San Francisco’s D. Milley was every bit the equal, seven scoreless innings of his own. He baffled Dodger bats with guile and grit, leaving the contest in the hands of the bullpens.

And then came the tenth inning, when the Dodgers faithful saw history turn their way. With two outs, and the crowd holding its breath, young Matt McCormick stepped in against Kevin Dickover. The pitch… swung on, and there it goes! High and deep to left, going, going, gone! A two-run home run, a thunderbolt into the night sky of Los Angeles! And with one mighty swing, the Dodgers claimed a 2–0 victory, and a 2–1 lead in the Division Series. The ballpark erupted in jubilation, while the Giants walked away with only the silence of what might have been.

It was a game of defense too — the Dodgers turning four double plays, erasing threat after threat, and reminding everyone that championships are built as much with the glove as with the bat.

So now, friends, the Dodgers stand just one win away from the League Championship Series. Tomorrow, right back here at Dodger Stadium, they’ll have a chance to finish the job. But tonight, under the California stars, Los Angeles can savor a victory for the ages.

Yes sir, playoff baseball at its very best — and how about that!

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Well, hello there, everybody — this is Mel Allen, and after two pitching duels we finally had a slugfest... How about that!

On a partly cloudy afternoon in Los Angeles, with a crisp breeze blowing in from right field, the San Francisco Giants kept their season alive, defeating the Dodgers by a score of 9 to 4. And what a day it was for first baseman Ramon Ocasio. Oh, my! Five hits in five trips, including a towering home run, a ringing double, and three singles, good for three runs scored and three driven in. That young man simply could not be retired, and his bat carried the Giants to victory.

It was a see-saw affair early. The Giants struck first with a leadoff home run from Alex Baca, and by the time the second inning was over, San Francisco had themselves a 2–0 lead. But the Dodgers answered back — a double from D. Wallace, some timely hitting, and Los Angeles tied the ballgame, then briefly pulled ahead. The crowd of over 49,000 was on its feet, sensing the Dodgers might wrap up the series.

But baseball has a way of turning in an instant. In the top of the fifth, with two men aboard and two out, Ocasio strode to the plate against starter C. Flor. The pitch — swung on, belted high and deep to right! Going, going, gone! A three-run home run, and just like that, the Giants surged ahead 7–3. The air seemed to come right out of the Dodger Stadium crowd.

From there, the Giants never looked back. They added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh, while the bullpen trio of Frank, Eldridge, and Sandbulte shut the door, scattering baserunners but never yielding the big blow.

The Dodgers tried to rally — M. Ozuna slugged a solo homer in the sixth, and V. Santiago chipped in with a run-scoring hit — but it was too little, too late. The Giants’ defense turned in the plays they needed, and Ocasio’s bat was simply too much to overcome.

And so, ladies and gentlemen, this National League Division Series is going the distance. One more game, a winner-take-all, set for Sunday, October 20th, up at Oracle Park in San Francisco. The Giants and Dodgers — two old rivals, one more clash, for the right to move on.

Yes sir, playoff baseball at its very best — and how about that!

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Texas Rangers: 1st ALCS berth
1918

Well, hello there, everybody — this is Mel Allen, and how about that!

The Baltimore Orioles’ quest for a fifth World Series crown came to an end this afternoon in Arlington, Texas — and oh, what a heartbreaker it was. For seven and a half innings, it looked like the Birds might be flying on. They carried a 3–2 lead into the bottom of the eighth, their pitchers had danced out of trouble, and you could almost feel the city of Baltimore holding its breath.

But baseball, folks, is a game of sudden turns. And in that eighth inning, the Texas Rangers turned the tables in a hurry. With the bases loaded, it was Jung-hoon Him who came through first — a sharp single into right to bring home the tying run. The crowd roared, and all of Globe Life Field came alive.

And then, with two men aboard, up stepped pinch hitter Mike Walden. The pitch — swung on, a liner into left field, base hit! One run scores … here comes another! Walden delivers a two-run single, and just like that, Texas had the lead, 5 to 3.

But they weren’t quite done yet. Kelly Brunke followed with a base knock of his own to tack on one more, and suddenly the Rangers were in command, 6 to 3. The Orioles could not answer in the ninth, and when the final out was recorded, the boys from Baltimore walked off the field, their season over — while the Rangers celebrated the first trip to the American League Championship Series in their franchise history.

Yes sir, heartbreak for Baltimore, jubilation for Texas. The final score once again: the Rangers 6, the Orioles 3.

And as these Rangers move on, they’ll meet the Chicago White Sox in the ALCS. One thing’s for sure — it won’t be easy. The competition only gets tougher from here. But for tonight, the Lone Star State is shining bright.

And how about that! ��

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Los Angeles Dodgers: 4th NLCS appearance
1902 1910 1914 1918

You could almost feel it, ladies and gentlemen — that old familiar tension between the Giants and the Dodgers, written into the very soul of baseball itself.

On a cool October afternoon in San Francisco, the Giants’ bid for a third consecutive pennant came to a halt, undone by their oldest foe. The Dodgers, who for years have carried the weight of expectation, now move forward, 5–4 winners, and with it they advance to their fourth National League Championship Series — their first trip in four long years.

How cruel this game can be. The Giants had the bats humming — a home run from young C.J. Rudeseal in the second, a blast from Alex Baca in the seventh. Each time, Oracle Park trembled with the sound of hope. Yet each time, the Dodgers had an answer. A key double here, a sharp single there, and just enough pitching to still the storm.

And when the dust settled, it was Los Angeles who found themselves in unfamiliar territory, standing tall while their rivals watched in silence. For the Giants, it is the end of the road — two straight years they climbed the mountain, only to be turned aside here by the blue wave from the south.

For the Dodgers, the journey continues — next stop, St. Louis, for a chance at the pennant. For the Giants, it’s heartbreak, and the long winter ahead.

You think back over the decades — from the Polo Grounds to Ebbets Field, from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, from Coogan’s Bluff to McCovey Cove. The names change, the uniforms change, the years roll on … but the story remains the same: Giants and Dodgers, bound together, locked forever in the great rivalry of this game.

And tonight, in October of 1918, it is the Dodgers who move on.

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1918 League Championship Series

Well folks, when you look at the field that’s left, it’s kind of amazing. Out of the four teams still standing, only one of them has ever won a World Series — the St. Louis Cardinals, way back in 1915. That’s three years ago, and they haven’t been back since.

Now, the Texas Rangers, this is their very first trip to the American League Championship Series. They’ve never been this far before, so for them, every game is new territory.

The Chicago White Sox, well, they’ve been to the World Series just once, and that was also in 1915. They ran into those very same Cardinals and lost, so their history is still waiting to be written.

And then you’ve got the Los Angeles Dodgers. They made it all the way to the World Series sixteen years ago, but they came up short against the Baltimore Orioles in 1902. Sixteen years is a long time to wait for another chance, but here they are again.

So when you put it all together, it’s a pretty wide-open race. Only one club has ever gone the distance, and for the others, it’s a chance to do something they’ve never done before.

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Well, this is Red Barber from the Catbird Seat, and friends, we had ourselves quite a ballgame down in Chicago this afternoon. The White Sox came out before a fine crowd of over forty-three thousand, and they wasted no time in laying it on the Texas Rangers, taking the opener of this League Championship Series, 9–3.

The big story, no doubt about it, was left fielder Tony Castillo. He had himself a day, two hits, one of them a mighty three–run home run in the third inning. That blow turned the tide, stretched the Chicago lead, and from there the Rangers never really recovered. Castillo finished with four runs driven in, and when you get production like that in October, you’re putting yourself in the driver’s seat.

Now the White Sox pitching—Gustavo Bojorquez went deep into the game, over eight innings, scattering nine hits and allowing just three runs. He wasn’t fancy, he wasn’t overpowering, but he worked his way through trouble, and when you do that, you give your club a chance to win.

For Texas, Chris Neidich, well, he didn’t have it. He got tagged early, gave up six runs in less than three innings, and in a short series, that’s a tough way to start. The Rangers never quite found the spark after that.

So Chicago strikes first blood in this best–of–seven. The Sox have momentum, the crowd is behind them, and the Rangers will have to regroup in a hurry, because tomorrow afternoon they’ll be back at Guaranteed Rate Field for Game Two.

And friends, in October baseball, one game can change everything, but the White Sox have made it mighty clear—they’re not just here to be polite guests.

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“Well, the Cardinals win this one, 6 to 4 over the Dodgers… and you gotta give a lot of credit to Steven Janczak, the veteran, 36 years old, and he went out there and gave ‘em 7 good innings. That’s not easy to do, especially in the postseason.

And you know, the big hit of the ballgame came in the sixth inning—Justin Ekstrom, he didn’t exactly get a clean one, it was an error on the shortstop, but it brought in the tying run, and sometimes that’s baseball. You put the ball in play, things happen.

Now the Cardinals, they’ve been around a long time, and they’ve had some good teams, but this group is trying to make its mark here in 1918. The Dodgers had their chances—11 hits, they left 12 men on base—and when you do that, well, it usually comes back to hurt you.

Janczak gets the win, Hernandez the save, and St. Louis takes a 1–0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Tomorrow, it’ll be Game Two right here at Busch Stadium.

Once again, the final score: Cardinals 6, Dodgers 4.”