ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The St. Louis Cardinals have used the first two games of their National League Division Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers to show why they are considered the most complete team in either league.

After starter Jason Marquis struggled, five relievers combined on 5 2/3 scoreless innings as the Cardinals posted an 8-3 triumph over the Dodgers and seized a two games to none lead in the series.

In the series opener on Tuesday - also an 8-3 win - St. Louis hit five home runs and got a solid outing from starter Woody Williams . In Game Two, the Cardinals saw Marquis last just 3 1/3 innings but received a stellar effort from their bullpen and four RBI from light-hitting catcher Mike Matheny .

After Marquis allowed three solo home runs, St. Louis manager Tony La Russa turned to his relief corps and they responded. Cal Eldred got the final two outs of the fourth and Dan Haren (1-0) notched the win with two scoreless innings.

Ray King tossed a hitless seventh and Julian Tavarez retired five of the six batters he faced before Steve Kline got Steve Finley to finish up. Clicking on all cylinders, St. Louis continues to look more like the team that won a major league-leading 105 games and not the one that struggled over the season's final two weeks.

"It's just one of those games, you know," La Russa said. "We have a lot of depth in the bullpen and man, they were outstanding. Every one of them."

"I think we have six quality guys down there. Tonight was a key example," King said. "Our bullpen came in, went five strong innings and gave our offense a chance to catch up."

Haren was making his postseason debut.

"That's they way it's been all year," Haren said. "The bullpen just comes in there and shuts people down. Today, we had to pick up Marquis. I'm sure the next time out there, he'll be sharp and solid, and we were able to step in there and give us a chance to win."

" Danny Haren , for a young kid, did a real nice job for them. He kind of settled the waters for them," Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. "Then behind him, here comes the guys that you know Tony is going to use in situational (spots)."

Matheny had the two biggest hits of the game - a two-out, two-run single in the fifth that made it 6-3 and a two-out, two-run base hit in the seventh that capped the scoring.

"I know I haven't put up huge numbers offensively, but I also know what my purpose is on this team," Matheny said. "First of all, it's behind the plate. Everybody wants to hit. The hitting part is fun. We've got an unbelievable lineup."

Los Angeles starter Jeff Weaver (0-1), who struggled over the final six weeks of the regular season, continued to pitch poorly in the playoffs. He was ripped for six runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings and fell to 0-4 lifetime in the postseason.

The best-of-five series shifts to Los Angeles for Game Three with the Dodgers hoping that veteran righthander Jose Lima can help them stave off elimination. St. Louis will look to advance to the NL Championship Series for the second time in three years behind ace Matt Morris .

"It boils down to them getting their hits and we're not," Finley said. "Right now, we're in a familiar position, we have our backs to the wall. It seems like we have been there the whole September. This team doesn't give up. We're going to come out fighting on Saturday."

Jayson Werth , Shawn Green and Milton Bradley homered for Los Angeles, which has not won a postseason series since 1988.

Werth staked Weaver to a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the first, but St. Louis scored three times in the second as Weaver committed a throwing error that enabled Renteria to score, Tony Womack had an RBI triple and Larry Walker a run-scoring double.

Green and Bradley hit back-to-back homers in the fourth to knot the score and Marquis walked David Ross one batter later. Cesar Izturis and Werth walked to load the bases, but Eldred got Finley to fly out on a 3-1 pitch to end the inning.

"It was a very big turning point in the game," Tracy said. "The game was tied, he had a 3-0 count, he got a good pitch to swing at 3-1 and got him to fly out. That was our opportunity and I think that was a big key to the game."

With the game deadlocked, 3-3, Weaver hurt himself by hitting Larry Walker with a pitch to open the fifth inning. Albert Pujols followed with a single, but Weaver got the next two batters.

Renteria snapped the tie with a soft single to center and Sanders was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Matheny then singled up the middle for a 6-3 cushion.

"I was up there with the bases loaded and (Weaver) is tough to pick up, he's a good pitcher," Matheny said. "I was trying to make something happen. Fortunately, it fell in the right spot. It's a beautiful thing. It's nice when it happens, being able to contribute when you can."

"That's why their lineup is so strong," Weaver said. "One through eight, everybody has the chance and potential to break innings open. Once again, they did it tonight."

Matheny plated Renteria and Sanders with a single off Giovanni Carrara in the seventh and the Dodgers never threatened.

"One of the things I think is important is that two-out hits will usually win ballgames," Sanders said. "We've been doing it all year long and this team battles and battles and doesn't give a pitcher a chance to be at ease."