
MLB: A Retrospective Of October 2014, NLDS A
(originally written October 2014)

Here, in Part 3 of our 2014 MLB Postseason retrospective, we'll revisit the National League Division Series (LA/STL).

Few outside of the Cardinals organization had any clue who this guy was entering the NLDS. A character from The X-Files? A senator from Louisiana? No on both counts—he's a free-swinging Texan outfielder who came to St. Louis in the David Freese trade, and as Clay Kershaw found out, he's got pop. With one down in the first, Grichuk smoked an 0-2 curve down the LF line and into the seats—just like that, the Cardinals led.

All the Matts employed by the Cardinals seem to run together; Holliday and Carpenter enjoyed big hits earlier in the series, and in Game 4 it was Adams' turn. The beefy first baseman, squaring off against Kershaw in the 7th with two men on, connected with an 0-1 hook and sent it over the RF fence—prematurely raising his fists in triumph, as the ball did not land that far over the fence. St. Louis went up 3-2, and held on to advance to the NLCS.

Here, in Part 3 of our 2014 MLB Postseason retrospective, we'll revisit the National League Division Series (LA/STL).