ST. LOUIS?In his first 14 innings of work this postseason, Brewers righthander Yovani Gallardo had allowed two runs.
He gave up that many before he had an out Wednesday night at Busch Stadium. By the end of the first, the Cardinals had four runs and they made them hold up for a 4-3 victory in pivotal Game 3 of the NL Championship Series.
On a night when both teams sent out their No. 1 starters, both struggled to throw strikes but still battled for five innings. Chris Carpenter proved just a little bit better to earn his seventh postseason victory and tie Bob Gibson for the franchise record.
Four Cardinals relievers held the Brewers hitless over the final four innings, with Jason Motte using his 99 mph fastball to strike out three of the four hitters he faced for a four-out save.
The Cardinals wasted no time taking advantage of Gallardo's lack of command when their first four batters reached and scored. Rafael Furcal singled up the middle and scored on a double by Jon Jay.
Albert Pujols drove a low-and-away pitch to the wall in center for a double that scored Jay. Matt Holliday walked before Yadier Molina hit into the club's 170th double play of the season, a 4-6-3 that scored Pujols. David Freese drove in what proved to be the difference maker with with a first-pitch double to right, gving him 11 RBIs for the postseason.
Mark Kotsay, in center field for his offense, hurt the Brewers on offense and defense in the first. After drawing a one-out walk, he was doubled off second after he broke for third on Prince Fielder's line drive to center.
In the bottom of the inning, Kotsay's lack of range showed on the second batter when he could not reach Jay's liner to medium left-center.
Kotsay did provide an offensive boost with a homer in the third that closed the Brewers' deficit to 4-3. The Brewers would threaten only once more when they put two on in the fifth but Carpenter struck out Rickie Weeks to end the inning, and his bullpen took over from there.
Game 4 is scheduled for Thursday night with lefty Randy Wolf starting against the Cardinals' Kyle Lohse.
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