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In a game that was scheduled to be started by Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers used a franchise-record 10 pitchers. But the 10-for-1 swap didn't work out in the Dodgers' favor, as they fell 5-2 in 12 innings to the Cardinals to fall one game back in the race for the second wild card spot in the National League.
The Dodgers have 15 games to make up that deficit.
Jon Jay began his day 0-for-5 with three strikeouts and had one single in his first 17 at-bats of the four-game series. But he atoned for that with an RBI double in the 12th inning, driving in the winning run in what would be a three-run rally against John Ely.
Ely has appeared in just two games this season for the Dodgers, both in extra innings, and he allowed three runs each time in a loss.
The Dodgers fell behind 2-0 in the first inning, but Andre Ethier erased that with a two-run home run in the third inning, his third career home run (in 33 plate appearances) against Adam Wainwright. Ethier has five home runs in 14 games and 55 plate appearances in September, matching his total in 79 games and 328 plate appearances from May 22 to Aug. 31.
Those two first inning runs were all that Stephen Fife would allow. Making his fourth major league start, Fife filled in quite ably for Kershaw on the mound. In his five innings Fife allowed two runs on four hits, but what jumped out were the nine strikeouts and just one walk. Fife had seven strikeouts combined in his first three starts, in 16 2/3 innings.
Matt Treanor appeared in his first game in two weeks on Sunday, getting the start behind the plate. Treanor came into the game hitless in his last 19 at-bats and had just three hits in his last 53 at-bats (.057), dating back to June 17. He walked in all three plate appearances on Sunday, and scored on Ethier's home run in the third inning.
Shelby Miller pitched a scoreless 11th inning to pick up his first major league win for St. Louis.
Up Next
The Dodgers are off on Monday, but open a nine-game road trip on Tuesday in Washington D.C. against the Nationals. Aaron Harang gets the start in the opener for the Dodgers, facing off with Jordan Zimmermann.
Sunday's Particulars
Home Runs: Andre Ethier (19)
WP - Shelby Miller (1-0): 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 strikeout
LP - John Ely (0-2): 2/3 IP, 2 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, 1 strikeout
Sv - Jason Motte (35): 1 IP, 1 walk, 1 strikeout