Los Angeles, California - The Los Angeles Dodgers have begun their title defense by working some walk-off magic against the St. Louis Cardinals in Wednesday night’s National League Wild Card game.

The Dodgers have beaten the Cardinals 3-1 to advance to the National League Division Series.

The game almost got to extra innings if not for some memorable magic from left fielder Chris Taylor’s (31) walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth, allowing LA to escape with the win.

The Cardinals came into the one-game playoff riding high off of a recent 17-game winning streak, though they had lost two straight games before facing the defending World Series champs on the road.

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It was the kind of game where pitching had to be perfect, mistakes were more dangerous, and runs were at a premium.

On the mound for both teams were two of some of the best veteran hurlers, Max Scherzer for LA and Adam Wainwright for the Redbirds.

Scherzer, who hasn’t lost a game since joining the Dodgers in July, wasn’t playing at his best, allowing three hits and a run, but he did manage to strike out four before getting pulled in the fifth inning.

He gave up the Cardinals’ only run in the first inning off of a wild pitch that allowed Tommy Edman to score from third base.

Wainwright lasted a little bit longer but not any better, allowing four hits and a run, but striking out five before leaving in the sixth.

After the Dodgers tied things up from Justin Turner’s fourth-inning solo shot, the game stayed that way until the bottom of the ninth, featuring Taylor’s two-out game-winning homer to seal the deal.

That hit was Taylor’s only hit in the game as he finished the night 1-for-2.

The Dodgers now move on to the NLDS to face their division rivals, the San Francisco Giants, in game one on Friday.