After splitting a four-game series with the New York Mets, the Los Angeles Dodgers continued with their stretch of facing recent postseason nemesis as they opened a three-game home set with the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.
Ross Stripling opened the game with a leadoff, which later led to runners on the corners with one out after a Matt Holliday single to center field on a hit-and-run. Matt Carpenter then scored on a slow Matt Adams grounder to third base that wasn’t turned for a double play due to Corey Seager’s throwing error.
Yadier Molina’s base hit again put runners on the corners, but Randal Grichuk grounded out to end the inning. Howie Kendrick, mired in a slump this season, was robbed of a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first on a leaping catch by Grichuk at the center field wall.
Michael Wacha then retired the next two batters faced, including getting a called strike three on Justin Turner to end the inning. Kolten Wong led off the second inning with a triple that hit off the top of the fence in center field.
However, Wong was subsequently caught in a rundown after Stripling fielded a grounder back the mound. Carpenter extended the inning with a two-out walk, but nothing came of it as Stephen Piscotty grounded out on the first pitch he saw.
The Dodgers benefitted on a pair of misplays from the Cardinals in the bottom of the second, resulting in Adrian Gonzalez and Yasiel Puig reaching with none out. Joc Pederson then battled back from being down 0-2 in the count to draw a walk that loaded the bases.
Trayce Thompson, making his first start since hiting Tuesday’s walk-off home run, muscled a broken-bat two-run single to center that gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. Some of their momentum stalled as A.J. Ellis lined to into a double play.
CONTINUE READING: Cardinals commit multiple errors, Kendrick and Puig help add to lead
