5 key moments from Thursday's Pirates-Cardinals NLDS Game 1

Still energized from Tuesday's Wild Card win, the Pirates took on the NL Central champion Cardinals for Game 1 of the NLDS on Thursday. St. Louis came out on top, handily defeating Pittsburgh 9-1. Let's revisit the GIFS:

Both teams were scoreless through the first two innings. The Cards' pitching and defense were as fierce as ever. Cases in point: Adam Wainwright's nine-whiff start, and David Freese's diving catch of a Clint Barmes liner.

Then, in the third, Carlos Beltran hit a three-run moonshot. At 443 feet, it was the second longest home run by a lefty hitter in stadium history. The dinger set off a rally for the home team -- by inning's end, the score was 7-0.

Fortunately, this #FANtasking Cards fan came prepared for the occasion.

The Pirates remained hitless until an Andrew McCutchen single in the fourth, then Pedro Alvarez went yard in the fifth. 7-1.

Alas, between a botched double play that allowed Jon Jay to score ...

And some phenomenal fielding by Carlos Martinez ...

... the Pirates failed to mount a comeback. Gerrit Cole's facial expression sums up how most Buc fans felt about this game.

But for the Cards, it was hugs all around.

The two teams will face each other again for Game 2 of the NLDS on Friday afternoon in St. Louis.