St. Louis Cardinals’ outfielder Matt Holliday was supposed to be the hero in a game that would have tied them with the Los Angeles Dodgers at 1-1 in their NLDS.  Too bad the cards didn’t go in his favor.

Holliday’s error on a low line drive off the bat of James Loney with two outs in the bottom of the ninth proved to place (what would become) the tying run on second base, and the Cardinals went on to lose Game 2 of this series 3-2 to the Dodgers.

Mark Loretta came through with two outs in the bottom of the ninth by delivering a walk-off RBI single.

Journeyman infielder Mark Loretta ended the game in walk-off fashion by singling up the middle, scoring Casey Blake.  The home squad won despite an outstanding pitching effort from NL Cy Young candidate Adam Wainwright.  Wainwright pitched 8 innings of three-hit baseball, only allowing one run on a home run by Andre Ethier.  The 19-game winner had Los Angeles batters baffled all night.

This loss was definitely a heartbreaker for St. Louis.  In their first two games of this series, they have placed two of the best pitchers in the majors on the mound (Chris Carpenter and Wainwright), and are facing an 0-2 deficit as they go back home to Busch Stadium. 

Holliday was acquired from the Oakland Athletics, and was the major piece of a mid-season trade designed to push St. Louis over the hump and into the playoffs.  The trade couldn’t have worked out any better for the team, as they finished the season as one of four NL teams that were fighting for the best record in the league.  And Holliday had homered in the second inning of this game, putting him in great position to be one of the game’s heroes.

But unfortunately for Holliday, if the Cards aren’t able to shake this funk, tonight’s error will live in infamy within the minds of the St. Louis faithful.

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