Cardinals stun Braves with 10-run 1st inning in Game 5

The St. Louis Cardinals didn't waste any time in Wednesday's deciding game in the NLDS.

Atlanta Braves right-hander Mike Foltynewicz was removed from his start trailing 4-0 with one out in the first inning and the bases loaded. The Cardinals were far from finished.

Foltynewicz was replaced by left-hander Max Fried, who walked opposing pitcher Jack Flaherty before allowing back-to-back doubles to Dexter Fowler and Kolten Wong.

All told, the Cardinals plated 10 runs on five hits, one error, four walks, and a wild pitch. Foltynewicz was charged with seven runs (six earned) in one-third of an inning while Fried was responsible for the others.

Foltynewicz is the seventh pitcher in MLB playoff history to get yanked from a start after a third of an inning or less in a winner-take-all game, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com. It was a rude awakening for Foltynewicz after he stifled the Cardinals over seven scoreless innings in Atlanta's Game 2 win.

The top of the first inning Wednesday had a little bit of everything, including Marcell Ozuna reaching base after striking out due to a wild pitch from Fried.

St. Louis went 5-for-8 with runners in scoring position in the first to give the team's ace an incredible lead. Flaherty allowed only 10 earned runs in the entire second half of the regular season (0.91 ERA over 99 1/3 innings).

If the Cardinals hold on, they will face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Washington Nationals in the NLCS.