The Dodgers opened their "second half" with a lackluster game, more reminiscent of the previous six regular seasons in St. Louis, as the Cardinals drubbed the Dodgers 7-1 in the first game of a four-game set. Coming into the game, the Dodgers had won six straight games against the Cardinals, including last year's playoffs, but have now lost 18 of their last 22 games in St. Louis.
Clayton Kershaw walked the first two batters of the game, and it was downhill from there. He was unable to last through the fifth inning, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. He also had a career-low one strikeout, the first time in 70 career starts he hasn't struck out at least two batters.
Chris Carpenter was a bit more efficient than Kershaw, allowing just one run in his eight innings of work, throwing 101 pitches. In his last six regular season starts against the Dodgers, Carpenter has allowed just four runs in 44 innings, for a paltry 0.82 ERA.
Notes
- Andre Ethier had half of the Dodgers four hits, and accounted for the only run with a solo home run in the fourth inning.
- On a more positive note, George Sherrill started the eighth inning, and retired the first two batters before allowing a single to Randy Winn.
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Brad Ausmus caught five innings in Albuquerque in the first of what will be a four-game rehabilitation assignment, and went hitless in two at-bats.
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Chad Billingsley and Jaime Garcia will face off tomorrow night.
WP - Chris Carpenter (10-3): 8 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 6 strikeouts
LP - Clayton Kershaw (9-5): 4 1/3 IP, 8 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 3 walks, 1 strikeout