Three takeaways from Cardinals' Game 4 win over Braves

Alexis Mansanarez

Three takeaways from Cardinals' Game 4 win over Braves image

We're headed to Game 5.

The Cardinals survived a win-or-stay-home game Monday in St. Louis to force a Game 5 in the National League Division Series.

St. Louis won 5-4 in 10 innings thanks to a clutch — we're talking clutch — performance from Yadier Molina.

Three takeaways from Cardinals' Game 4 win over Braves

Yadier Molina is clutch

We've said it once, we'll say it again: Molina is clutch.

The Cardinals needed something, anything to stay alive in Game 4. Who better to deliver than Molina? He has been great when called upon and his at-bat in the bottom of the eighth, and again in the 10th, was exactly what St. Louis needed.

When he stepped to the plate with the tying run on second base and two outs in the eighth, the Cards needed a big hit — and they got it.

Molina scored Paul Goldschmidt on a single. 

When the game went into extra innings, Molina stepped up to the plate in the 10th with the walk-off run waiting on third base. There was just one out when Molina sent a sacrifice fly to left field. It scored Kolten Wong and that was that.

Molina finished 1-for-4 with two RBI.

Dansby Swanson has been the star of the show for Atlanta

It's been quite a couple of days for the Braves shortstop. 

Swanson hit the game-tying RBI on Sunday and came out again to score Atlanta's first run Monday. He's not only hitting but hitting with power. Each of Swanson’s three hits Sunday had an exit velocity greater than 100 mph, according to MLB.com. While his bat wasn't as powerful Monday, Swanson still got on base three times, and scored twice.

He was brought home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ozzie Albies to put the Braves on the board in the third inning.

Swanson has had a great series for a player who missed last year's playoffs with an injury. He has seven hits in 14 at-bats.

Braves took advantage of another three-run inning

In Game 3, Atlanta staged a three-run rally in the ninth to tilt the series in its favor. Monday, the Braves again used a three-run inning to tilt the game in their favor.

They were trailing 3-1 with two outs in the top of the fifth when Swanson scored on an error and two batters later Albies hit a two-run homer to put Atlanta ahead.

Unfortunately, it would be part of the team's losing efforts but one thing is clear: The Braves thrive under pressure.

In both games, the Braves' three-run rally came with two outs. They have outlasted the Cardinals before and could likely do so again with the crowd on their side in Atlanta for Game 5.

Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday with the first pitch at 5:02 p.m. ET.

Alexis Mansanarez