St. Louis Cardinals defeated Los Angeles Dodgers 9-0 advance to the 2013 World Series

CARDINALS 9, DODGERS 0

ST. LOUIS — For 16 summers and four Octobers, Carlos Beltran is finally going to his first World Series with his fine hitting and defense.

Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw melts, as their defense unable to make a play and their hitting has gone cold.

Matt Carpenter help lead the Cardinals back to the World Series he lined a double to right field. Then Carlos Beltran followed with another huge hit in a four-run third inning that stunned Kershaw. Michael Wacha was a machine he out-pitched Kershaw for the second time this series. St. Louis Cardinals advanced to its second World Series in three seasons by overwhelming 9-0 win against Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Friday night.

LA Dodgers sweeps Tampa Bay Rays

The Los Angeles Dodgers increased their NL West lead to a season-best 7 1/2 games Sunday night with an 8-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Mark Ellis had a homer and three RBIs to help the Dodgers improve to a major league-best 37-8 since June 22, a stretch that has dramatically turned around their season after they trailed the Arizona Diamondbacks by as many as 9 1/2 games. The Dodgers are a season-best 17 games over .500.

Kershaw (11-7) allowed two runs - one earned - and struck out eight to help the Dodgers complete their seventh series sweep of the season. Tampa Bay's only hits off the 2011 Cy Young Award winning left-hander through the first seven innings came in the fifth, a leadoff single by Yunel Escobar and a two-out triple by pinch-hitter Sam Fuld.