Dodgers dropped by Cardinals, split series in St. Louis

Adam Wainwright went six strong shutout innings for the St. Louis Cardinals and drove in the only runs of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Redbirds came back to split a four-game series, winning 2-0 in Busch Stadium.

Wainwright allowed only four hits while striking out six batters and a trio of relievers shut down a quiet Los Angeles Dodgers offense, yielding no runs the rest of the way.

The Dodgers have now scored only once in their last 18 innings of play.

Wainwright helped himself at the plate with a two-run home run to left field that scored Paul DeJong from second base. For Wainwright, a career .201 hitter coming into play today, it was his second home run of the season and tenth of his career.

The Dodgers threatened with two singles in the top of the fifth inning - an inning which saw starter Brandon McCarthy unsuccessfully pinch-hit for (Brett Eibner flied out) having allowed two runs in only four innings, but using 85 pitches to do so - but a soft grounder and a pop-up retired Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger respectively to end the mild uprising.

This followed fourth-inning futility where the Dodgers were unable to plate Bellinger after his leadoff double.

McCarthy and the Dodgers escaped a second-and-third, no outs jam in the third inning when two consecutive ground balls to third baseman Kiké Hernandez resulted in no runner advancement and then the runner at third being erased in a rundown. The right-hander then recorded a strikeout to end the threat.

Chris Taylor drew an 11-pitch walk to lead off the top of the eight inning, but was erased two pitches later on a ground-ball double play off the bat of Seager.

Notes

Before today’s game, the Dodgers placed Adam Liberatore on the disabled list and recalled Grant Dayton.

Dodgers relievers continued to excel, hurling four shutout innings while allowing only two hits and striking out four batters.

Adrian Gonzalez and Yasmani Grandal both had their days ended ever so slightly early by being ejected in the ninth inning by home plate umpire Marty Foster.

Up next

Clayton Kershaw toes the rubber for Los Angeles in the first game of a weekend three-game series in Milwaukee. Jimmy Nelson will climb the hill for the Brewers. First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 p.m. PT on Friday.

Wednesday particulars

Home runs: Wainwright (2)

WP - Wainwright (6-3): 6 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts

LP - McCarthy (5-2): 4 IP, 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts

SV- Oh (13): 1 IP, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts