ST. LOUIS -- It had been a rough night for Rafael Furcal. Five plate appearances and still without a hit.
But as Furcal stepped into the box in a tied game in the 12th inning, a man waiting on second to come home and end a nearly four-hour marathon, Furcal made sure to shorten up his swing.
The result? A single into left field to give the Cardinals a 3-2 win at Busch Stadium, their second consecutive win over the Dodgers.
"You have to because I was 0-for-4 and hadn't hit the ball good all night," said Furcal, who also walked. "With a man on second base I just tried to choke up a bit and put the ball in play."
Pinch-hitter Lance Berkman walked with one out in the 12th. Berkman had been out of the Cardinals' staring lineup while nursing a deep bone bruise on his right knee that he sustained after getting hit by a pitch on Tuesday.
But as Furcal stepped into the box in a tied game in the 12th inning, a man waiting on second to come home and end a nearly four-hour marathon, Furcal made sure to shorten up his swing.
The result? A single into left field to give the Cardinals a 3-2 win at Busch Stadium, their second consecutive win over the Dodgers.
"You have to because I was 0-for-4 and hadn't hit the ball good all night," said Furcal, who also walked. "With a man on second base I just tried to choke up a bit and put the ball in play."
Pinch-hitter Lance Berkman walked with one out in the 12th. Berkman had been out of the Cardinals' staring lineup while nursing a deep bone bruise on his right knee that he sustained after getting hit by a pitch on Tuesday.
