Cardinals a game away from World Series

ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Cardinals are one victory away from the World Series after overpowering the error-prone Milwaukee Brewers 7-1 in game five of their Major League Baseball series.

The Cardinals survived a short start from pitching ace Jaime Garcia, by getting a brilliant performance from their bullpen to give them a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“It has been crazy,” said Cardinals slugger Matt Holliday. “We just find ways to win. It is never one guy. It is a group effort.”

St. Louis can close out the series and record its 18th National League pennant with a win in game six on Sunday in Milwaukee.

Yadier Molina and Matt Holliday each had three hits for the Cardinals who rebounded from a 4-2 loss in Thursday’s game four.

“My timing is better,” Holliday said. “I am grateful that I am able to help the team out. Sometimes when I don’t come through it hurts, so to get a couple of hits feels pretty good.”

Third baseman Jerry Hairston allowed a Garcia ground ball to slip through his legs in the second inning scoring two key runs as the Brewers finished with four errors on the night.

The Cards jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second after Molina drove in a run with a double and then Garcia’s hit handcuffed Hairston.

“Jerry let one get through his legs and that is not typical for him,” said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke. “You give (St. Louis) extra outs and they are going to hurt you.”

Holliday helped ice the victory with a two-run single in the eighth.

Garcia lasted just 4 2/3 innings in the start for St. Louis, which surprisingly has not had a starter go past five innings in the first five games of this series. Garcia had five strikeouts.

Cards reliever Octavio Dotel got the win after pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Lance Lynn, Marc Rzepczynski and Jason Motte also came on in relief and did not allow a run.

“Our bullpen has been incredible. They really fit into a role,” Holliday said. “We would like our starters to go deeper but when you got a bullpen as good as ours is it is fun to watch.”

Brewers starter Zack Greinke surrendered five runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings to take the loss.

“I made a couple of tough mistakes,” Greinke said. “It wasn’t a great game pitched by me. Nobody’s perfect.”

Corey Hart drove in the only run for Milwaukee, who were brilliant at home during the regular season, setting a franchise record by finishing with 57 wins and just 24 losses.