Ejected and Dejected: Dodgers Shutout by Cardinals

I came into Friday night’s game optimistic yet skeptical. After all, the Cardinals seem to always have the Dodgers out Wonged and out Lackeyed. This time the Dodgers were not only shut out 3-0 at Busch Stadium, but both Don Mattingly and A.J. Ellis were ejected after arguing balls and strikes. To be fair, the strike zone was pretty inconsistent, but then again, the Dodgers’ offense has been really inconsistent on the road.

Dodgers 0 6 1

Cardinals 3 10  0

WP- Lackey (3-3)

LP- Bolsinger (3-1)

S- Rosenthal (14)

Mike Bolsinger didn’t have a career-best game like his last start against San Diego, but he was certainly pitching well in an unfamiliar and hostile environment. John Lackey just happened to outpitch Bolsinger on the night, and the veteran pitched seven shutout innings.

Ironically, Jimmy Rollins had two hits on the night, but Joc Pederson went hitless with two strikeouts, Ethier went 0-for-4, and A.J. Ellis struck out thrice.

It was a costly loss since the Giants were busy working on their fifth consecutive win which would knock the Dodgers out of first place and put them 1/2 game behind San Francisco.

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Mike Bolsinger and the Dodgers were lucky to get out of the first inning down by only one run. Bolsinger’s curveball wasn’t working just yet, and he loaded the bases up after a leadoff double by Kolten Wong. A Matt Carpenter single and a walk to Jhonny Peralta loaded the bases up for the Red Birds with zero outs. Bolsinger was on a verge of a disaster, but he induced a scoring double play from Randal Grichuk and a groundout from Mark Reynolds to halt the rally at one run.

The Cardinals scored a second run in the third on back-to-back doubles by Peralta and Grichuk. Grichuck’s double sailed over the head of Alex Guerrero in left field like a bird with wind under its wings.

John Lackey had no problem shutting down the Dodgers offense, and he only allowed two hits through five innings. Joc Pederson was the only Dodger base runner to reach second at that point. The right-hander only needed eight pitches to retire the Dodgers in the top of the fifth.

Jimmy Rollins singled with one out in the top of the sixth, but Howie Kendrick hit into a double play.

A.J. Ellis made up for his two strikeouts somewhat in the bottom of the sixth when he threw out Mark Reynolds attempting to steal third base. That’s A.J.’s eighth runner thrown out in 17 games. He’s hitting .137 with 7 hits on the season.

The Dodgers got the tying runs on board in the seventh thanks to consecutive singles by Adrian Gonzalez and Justin Turner. Andre Ethier was called out on strikes, and Don Mattingly was furious at the seemingly low called third strike. Mattingly was ejected, and the Dodgers are dejected. Alex Guerrero popped out, A.J. struck out for the third time against Lackey. The Dodgers stranded both runners.

Mike Bolsinger pitched 6 innings and allowed 2 runs on 7 hits with 3 strikeouts and 3 walks on 97 pitches.

Things got even uglier in the bottom of the seventh. Both starting pitchers were out of the game, and J.P. Howell took over for Mike Bolsinger. Ed Easley reached safely on a fielding error by Justin Turner at third base (I miss you already, Papi), and Wong grounded into a force out. The Dodgers challenged the safe call at second, but the call was upheld because Jimmy’s foot came off the bag. Howell walked Carpenter, and A.J. Ellis was then ejected by home plate umpire Mike winters.

The disaster of an inning continued after the Dodgers made a triple switch of sorts. Juan Nicasio came in to pitch, Chris Heisey took over for Guerrero in left field and Austin Barnes had to put on the mask and catch. Jhonny Peralta cashed in the Turner error on a double to left field, and the Cardinals took a 3-0 lead. Nicasio then intentionally walked Grichuk to load the bases up. The plan worked, and Reynolds struck out. Yadier Molina flied out to end the inning, but the insurance run was in.

John Lackey pitched 7 innings and allowed no runs on 5 hits with 9 strikeouts and 1 walk on 96 pitches.

Kevin Siergrist, a left-hander, came out of the St. Louis bullpen for the eighth. Jimmy Rollins doubled in the inning (his second hit of the night), but the Dodgers couldn’t muster much else against the southpaw.

The Cardinals threatened in the eighth. Jon Jay singled after a 13-pitch at bat against Paco Rodriguez which was followed by a Kolten Wong single. Paco was able to get out of the inning after Carpenter lined out to Ethier in right field.

Trevor Rosenthal came in to shut down the Dodgers in the ninth, and that’s exactly what he did.

The Dodgers drop to 28-19 on the season and 7-12 on the road.

Saturday afternoon Carlos Frias will counter Michael Wacha who is 7-0 on the season with a 1.87 E.R.A.