(My Sportsbook) - The National League Division Series shifts to St. Louis this evening, as the Cardinals try to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium.

History, though, is not on the Cardinals' side. Since baseball introduced its current wild card format in 1995, there have been four teams who have come back from 0-2 deficits to win division series, but they have all been AL clubs.

No NL team has ever rallied back from a two-game deficit in the NLDS. In fact 14 of the 18 teams that have been in that predicament have been swept.

Hoping to keep the Cards' season alive this evening will be unheralded right- hander Joel Pineiro, who was 15-12 this season with a 3.49 earned run average. Pineiro, though, finished on a sour note, losing three of his last four decisions.

"(Chris) Carpenter and (Adam) Wainwright have been so outstanding that in comparison, sometimes Joel gets lost and doesn't get the attention he deserves," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "But for a great majority of his starts, he gives you that same kind of baseball. We're excited to send him out there. I think he'll give us a chance -- a real good chance."

Pineiro is also 2-0 lifetime against the Dodgers with a 3.38 ERA in three starts.

Los Angeles moved to the brink of sweeping an NLDS for the second straight year with an improbable win on Thursday.

After beating NL Cy Young Award candidate Chris Carpenter in the first game of this best-of-five set on Wednesday, the Dodgers were held at bay through eight innings by the Cardinals' other ace, Adam Wainwright, on Thursday.

However, Matt Holliday misplayed a fly ball with two outs in the ninth, opening the flood gates and leading to the Dodgers' thrilling 3-2 come from behind win.

"I couldn't see the ball," said Holliday. "I lost it in the lights. You come in for the ball, get a good read on it, but at the last minute I lost it in the lights. It hit my body, hit my glove, unfortunate timing. It wasn't because of lack of effort. I just couldn't see the ball."

After getting Manny Ramirez to fly out for the second out in the ninth, St. Louis closer Ryan Franklin got James Loney to slice a liner to left. The hard- charging Holliday, though, had the ball carom off his chest for a two-base error. Casey Blake then walked and Ronnie Belliard's single to center plated pinch- runner Juan Pierre to tie the game. The runners advanced on a passed ball and Russell Martin then walked before Mark Loretta punched a pitch off the knob into left-center for the game-winner.

"I can't remember any of them (being as crazy as this ending)," said Martin. "It was so awesome when I saw the ball in the air. I thought I was floating around the bases. It was an incredible game, just awesome."

Loretta had been 0-for-15 lifetime versus Franklin (0-1)

George Sherrill (1-0) hurled a scoreless top of the ninth to pick up the victory for the Dodgers, who beat the Chicago Cubs in three games of last year's NLDS.

Getting the call for the Dodgers tonight will be righty Vicente Padilla, who was 4-0 with a 3.20 ERA after being signed by Los Angeles following his release from Texas. Padilla ended the year strong, as he defeated the Colorado Rockies and struck out a season-high 10 batters.

Padilla could have his hands full with superstar Albert Pujols, who has been virtually invisible through the first two games of this series, managing just one hit in his six at-bats.

Pujols, of course, is on the verge of winning his third NL MVP after batting .327 with a major league-leading 47 homers and 135 RBI along with a major- league high 44 intentional walks.

St. Louis won the season series between these teams, 5-2. The Dodgers have also lost 14 of their last 17 games at Busch Stadium.

Game 4, if necessary, will be played on Sunday in St. Louis.