Cardinals' miscues halt NLCS momentum against Dodgers

LOS ANGELES – Throughout the regular season and most of the playoffs, the St. Louis Cardinals could be counted on not to beat themselves. After all, they set franchise records for fewest errors and best fielding percentage in a season.
There are errors and then there are misplays, though, and a few of the latter on Monday may have exposed some chinks in the Cardinals' defensive armor.
Entering Game 3 with a 2-0 lead in the National League Championship Series and ace starter Adam Wainwright on the mound, St. Louis failed to keep the pressure on the Los Angeles Dodgers, whose 3-0 victory behind Hyun-Jin Ryu's masterful pitching breathed new life into their chances.
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Moreover, the Cardinals looked not like a juggernaut about to punch their ticket to the World Series for the fourth time in 10 seasons, but like a team that may be feeling the impact of some injury absences and an inexperienced bench.
The game's key play had nothing to do with those elements. Center fielder Jon Jay, having a rough series, failed to take over on Mark Ellis' drive to right-center leading off the fourth, letting it fall between him and right fielder Carlos Beltran for a double that sparked a two-run rally. They were the Dodgers' first runs after a 22-inning scoreless drought.
"That's a play I have to make,'' said Jay, who also failed to snag a tougher drive off his glove by A.J. Ellis that went for a triple. "I'm the center fielder. I have to take charge.''
Indeed, with more decisive action on that fly ball, starting pitcher Wainwright may have faced Adrian Gonzalez with two outs and the bases empty, so his double would not have done any damage. Instead, it drove in a run. One out later, Yasiel Puig's triple made the score 2-0.
But perhaps a deeper concern for St. Louis as the series moves along is the limited capability of its bench, which has been thinned by Allen Craig's foot injury – he has yet to play in the postseason – and David Freese's calf strain.
The third baseman had to leave in the fifth inning when his calf tightened up, and while he didn't seem overly concerned afterward, there's no certainty about his availability for Tuesday and beyond.
"It's just sore,'' Freese said. "I'll get some rest and check it out tomorrow, do some tests and hopefully I can get back in there.''