The St. Louis Cardinals finished off the Los Angeles Dodgers and waved goodbye to the National League Championship Series, winning Game 6 in St. Louis, 9-0, to advance to the World Series.

Cards starter Michael Wacha threw seven shutout innings and only gave up two hits in the process. He struck out five and walked only one.

On the other side of the mound, Dodgers' starter Clayton Kershaw was pitching in the biggest game of the season and struggled mightily. Kershaw gave up four runs in as many innings and never made it back to the mound for the fifth.

Year after year, critics have continued to doubt the Cardinals but they've always found a way to go deep into the playoffs. This year they'll be facing tough competition in the American League as the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox have gone neck to neck in the ALCS thus far.

"I'm so happy right now. We did it as a team," Cards playoff star Carlos Beltran said. "We fought hard, we worked hard all season long and thank God we're here."

The Cardinals have plenty of time to rest following the big NLCS victory. The World Series begins on Wednesday and will be hosted by the winner of the ALCS. The Red Sox currently hold a 3-2 lead in the series against Detroit, which is now headed back to Boston for Games 6 and, if necessary, 7.

"Going through spring, the long season and then it just comes to a crash," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said after the game. "So, it's disappointing for all of us."

The Cardinals are NL champions for the 19th time and now the team will be back in the World Series for the second time in three years.