LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are one victory away from beating the Cardinals for the first time in a playoff series, after taking a 2-0 edge in the National League Division Series Thursday.

The Cardinals beat the then-Brooklyn Dodgers two games straight in a best-of-three playoff in 1946 for the National League pennant. In 1985, dramatic home runs by Ozzie Smith and Jack Clark won the last two games for the Cardinals as they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers four games to two in the National League Championship Series. And, in 2004, the Cardinals survived a Game 3 shutout by Jose Lima to win the division series three games to one.

THOME HAS ONE CHANCE

Jim Thome hasn't worn a glove, whether he has been playing for the Chicago White Sox or the Dodgers, this year. But the difference is that when the 39-year-old Thome was a designated hitter for the White Sox, he got four at-bats a game. Now he gets only one.

Thome, who grew up in Bartonville, Ill., and went to Peoria Limestone High School, got that one at-bat in Game 1 on Wednesday against Cardinals lefthander Trever Miller and struck out in the sixth inning. Thome was hit on the back by Adam Wainwright as he pinch-hit in the eighth in Game 2 on Thursday.

"You have to be aggressive, but you have to be under control," said Thome of getting only one chance a game. "It is a challenge.

"You can't miss pitches you get," said Thome, who ranks 12th on the career home run list at 564. "Unfortunately, I did that on the first pitch (Wednesday) when I fouled it off."

Manager Joe Torre, in trying to find the right spot for Thome, said, "It's a challenge in a lot of ways because you have to throw a pinch runner out there with him."

But Torre said, "I'm not afraid (of) lefthanders with Thome."

Thome said he was looking forward to seeing the new Busch Stadium for the first time this weekend for Games 3 and possibly 4 of the division series.

"I've got a lot of friends around the St. Louis area that are excited as well," Thome said.

"It's going to be a neat experience. It's fun to go there and feel that atmosphere towards baseball."