Dodgers Sleepwalk To Another Loss Against the Cardinals

The Dodgers rolled over to the Cardinals again for the fourth time in their last five against the Redbirds. Brett Anderson’s terrific outing was wasted on more pathetic offense. The Dodgers could only muster one run on four hits against flame throwing right hander Carlos Martinez, and the Cardinal’s bullpen. The Cardinals scored two inexplicably baffling runs in the top of the eighth inning on a walk, two infield singles, and a sacrifice fly. The frame was highlighted by a bizarre play by Adrian Gonzalez, who fielded a weak grounder and just stood there and watched as the tying run scored. Perhaps it’s time to accept that the Dodgers aren’t that good this year.

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Don Mattingly put out another triple-A lineup. Although it’s hard to really blame Mattingly when he just doesn’t have anyone good to use. Andrew Friedman’s triple-a roster just isn’t working. The Cardinals are in another league.

Cardinals 2 4 0

Dodgers  1 3 0

WP-Martinez-6-2

LP-Anderson-2-4

SV-Rosenthal-18

The Dodgers called up outfielder Scott Schebler before the game, and optioned left handed reliever Daniel Coulombe to make roster space. Schebler in his first major league game played in left field, and batted seventh. He recorded his first major league hit in the second inning, (a single into left), struck out in the fourth, and flied out in the sixth. Schebler finished 1 for 3 on the night.

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Martinez was wild at first, but got stronger as the game went along. The Dodgers were only able to get one run against him, which they plated in the bottom of the second. Albero Callaspo walked, and Schebler, and Enrique Hernandez followed with consecutive singles to load the bases. One out later, Joc Pederson’s bases loaded walk forced in a run. The Dodgers went up 1-0. Rollins double play stymied the rally.

The game remained 1-0 Dodgers all the way until that stupid top of eighth inning. Anderson had only allowed two hits up until that point. However once he allowed a lead-off walk to Yadier Molina, I had a bad feeling he would blow it.

Until then, the game zoomed along because Martinez retired 15 of 16 Dodgers. Martinez allowed just the one run on three hits through seven fantastic frames. He walked four, but struck out 11 Dodgers. This kid can pitch. There is not a doubt about that.

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Anderson himself was quite impressive as well. He pitched 7.2 innings, and ended up being charged with two runs on four hits. He walked three, and struck out five. The fateful eighth inning spelled doom for the Dodgers.

In the eighth, Molina led-off with a walk. The Cardinals pinch-ran for him with Pete Kozma. Then Jason Heyward’s grounder up the middle allowed him to reach base when Jimmy Rollins tried to backhand throw the ball to second. The throw wasn’t even close. Then pinch-hitter Tony Cruz’s sacrifice advanced the runners to second and third.

Anderson remained on the mound, and the next play was full of so much stupid and bizarre it’s mind bending. Kolten Wong’s little dribbler to first makes Gonzo come into field the ball. Anderson didn’t cover first, but there was a play at the plate. Gonzo just stood there as Kozma jogged home to score the tying run. With the way the club is hitting, you have to make a throw to the plate. You can’t let the tying run score. Gonzo just held the ball, and watched the Cardinals tie the game at 1-1. It made no sense to me. Matt Carpenter’s sacrifice fly to right scored Heyward to put the Cardinals up 2-1. Check out the eighth inning brain fart below, and you be the judge.

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

That was it. The Dodgers got one single in the bottom of the eighth from Gonzo himself ironically. Siegrest and closer Trevor Rosenthal easily retired the Dodgers in the eighth and ninth innings to secure the win for the Cardinals. I still think Gonzo had a play at the plate, but whatever.

The Giants won in Philadelphia tonight, so the Dodger’s lead is just a half game in the National League West. The Dodgers have now lost three in a row at home for the first time since August of 2014. The Dodgers are now 31-24, and fall to 21-9 at home. The Cardinals find ways to manufacture those runs that the Dodgers can’t. It’s hard to win games with the lineups the club is putting out.

Game three of the series will be before the hollywood stars game night. nationally televised Saturday afternoon on Fox. We can only hope the Dodgers don’t embarrass themselves in front of a national audience. (Sorry guys, I got my schedule mixed up, Sunday night is the nationally televised game on ESPN, Saturday is a regularly scheduled 7:10 PM time. Jaime Garcia will draw Clayton Kershaw at 7:10 PM.