Impact player of the game: Matt Holliday powers Cardinals to Game 1 win

There were many heroes in the St. Louis Cardinals' shocking come-from-behind Game 1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, but none was bigger than left fielder Matt Holliday. 

Matt Carpenter smacked a three-run double in the seventh to chase Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw before Holliday delivered the final blow in an eight-run inning for the Cardinals. 

Holliday turned on a 97-mph fastball from Pedro Baez, demolishing a no-doubt, three-run homer into the seats in left to put the Cardinals ahead 10-6. 

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

The runs proved necessary, as Los Angeles scored two in the eighth and another in the ninth to make it a one-run game. But closer Trevor Rosenthal fanned Yasiel Puig with two runners on to seal the 10-9 road win for St. Louis. 

Holliday, who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, overcame a slow start to put together another strong season, his 11th consecutive posting an OPS north of .800. The 34-year-old veteran hit .272/.370/.441 with 20 homers, while driving in a team-high 90 runs.