Dodgers crush Cardinals to sweep NL series

Andre Ethier belted a two-run homer and Vincente Padilla pitched seven shutout innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat St. Louis 5-1 to sweep their first-round playoff series.

Manny Ramirez busted out of his long slump by knocking in two runs for the Dodgers, who won the best-of-five series 3-0 and advanced to the National League championhip series for the second consecutive year.

Ramirez helped Los Angeles get out to a quick start with a double in the first inning that scored Matt Kemp and made it 1-0 at Busch Stadium.

Two innings later, Ethier smashed his homer over the outfield wall to give the Dodgers a three-run cushion.

St. Louis was scrambling to sustain their hopes on Saturday but they couldn't must much scoring until it was too late.

Meanwhile, snow forced the postponement of Saturday's other scheduled playoff game between Philadelphia and Colorado to Sunday, prompting a switch in pitchers for the Phillies.

Pedro Martinez, the 37-year-old veteran hurler who has not made a playoff start in five years, will be replaced by rookie left-hander J.A. Happ for the Phillies, reigning World Series champions, against the Rockies' Jason Hammel.

The National League first-round best-of-five series is level at 1-1 with games three and four now set for Denver, weather permitting, on Sunday and Monday. Game five would be Tuesday at Philadelphia if necessary.

Martinez had not made a playoff start since winning game three of the 2004 World Series for the Boston Red Sox, who then captured game four to complete a sweep and snap an 86-year title drought.

But his bid for undone by snow and record-setting cold that left conditions icy and unplayable with flurries set to continue into the night. Sunday was expected to be chilly but still twice as warm as Saturday.

Teams would be able to use their game-one starting pitchers - Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez and Philadelphia's Cliff Lee - with full rest on Monday if necessary because of the postponement.