Clayton Kershaw dominates on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He’s a two-time Cy Young Award winner likely to win a third and he is the only player to lead Major League Baseball in earned run average four consecutive years.

He’s great. He’s just not perfect. And that’s why the St. Louis Cardinals eliminated the Dodgers in four games on Tuesday to move on to the National League Championship Series.

The Cardinals, held to one hit in six innings, scored big in the seventh. Two singles preceded Matt Adams’ trip to the plate and Adams smacked a three-run homer off Kershaw. The Cardinals won 3-2 and will play the San Francisco Giants in the best-of-seven series that opens Saturday in St. Louis.

The Giants, masters of making something from nothing, loaded the bases in the seventh inning with two singles and a walk and scored the winning run on a wild pitch. The Nationals were widely regarded before the season began as a favorite to win the World Series. Now the Giants may get a chance at winning their third World Series in five years.

The Kansas City Royals will be playing the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Championship Series that begins Friday night at Camden Yards.