6 crucial moments from Wednesday's Cardinals-Dodgers NLCS Game 5

On Wednesday, the Cardinals were within a single W of clinching the NLCS, entering Game 5 at Dodger Stadium with a 3-1 lead in the series. But fortunately for Mattingly and company, the big blue sea of L.A. faithful at Chavez Ravine helped buoy the Dodgers to a critical victory.

Now, strap on your fake Brian Wilson beard, and let's get to the GIFs.

The boys in blue didn't waste much time getting on the board. In the bottom of the second, Adrian Gonzalez came home on a Juan Uribe single. Then Renaissance man Zack Greinke helped himself to his own RBI single. The Dodgers were up, 2-0.

By the top of the third, the Cards were ready to mount a comeback. Carlos Beltran tripled, scoring Matt Carpenter. Matt Holliday doubled, knocking in Car-Bel. St. Louis had tied the game, 2-2.

When A-Gon came up to bat in the third, the ball was A-Goner -- the first baseman hit a solo dinger, the first Dodger home run of the series. Tie? Broken. (Is it just us, or did he throw up some celebratory Mickey Mouse ears?)

The Dodgers' lead grew to 4-2 with a fifth-inning Carl Crawford homer, his fourth of the postseason.

And grew again with A.J. Ellis' shot to left in the seventh. Magic Johnson was pleased.

In the next inning, Gonzalez decided another homer would be twice as nice. His second moonshot of the night raised the score to 6-2.

The Cards enjoyed a productive ninth inning, with both Holliday and Adams scoring, but they failed to overcome the gap. With a final score of 6-4, the Dodgers lived to fight another day, forcing a Game 6 in St. Louis on Friday.