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The Dodgers trail the all-time series with the Cardinals 1,001-1,000
The Los Angeles Dodgers staged an improbable rally for two runs in the top of the ninth inning to beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the opening game of a three-game series at Busch Stadium. Aaron Miles hit a game-tying triple into the right field gap, then scored on a ground ball by Rod Barajas, a play that was booted by ex-Dodger Rafael Furcal. The ninth inning represented a dramatic change from the first eight innings, which were owned by Chris Carpenter.
Carpenter allowed no runs through eight innings, which is par for the course for Carpenter against the Dodgers. He was removed after hitting Juan Rivera to open the ninth inning, and eventually allowed a run, but Carpenter still owns the Dodgers. In his last eight starts against the Dodgers, Carpenter has allowed just five runs and five walks. Total.
But Carpenter didn't get a win on Monday night.
Nathan Eovaldi allowed one run in five innings in his fourth major league start, a home run to Lance Berkman in the second inning. The Dodger bullpen -- Josh Lindblom, Scott Elbert, Matt Guerrier, and Javy Guerra tonight -- retired 12 of the 13 batters they faced to close out the game. The Dodgers are now 2-62 this season when trailing to start the ninth inning.
For more news and information about the Dodgers, be sure to read True Blue LA.
The Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals Monday night at Busch Stadium, and will do so with a new-look lineup, of sorts. For the first time all season, both Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp will start at somewhere other than third and fourth, respectively, in the batting order. Kemp has been moved to third and Ethier fifth for Monday's game. Here are the starting lineups:
Carroll SS
Loney 1B
Kemp CF
Rivera LF
Ethier RF
Miles 3B
Barajas C
Velez 2B
Eovaldi P
Schumaker 2B
Freese 3B
Pujols 1B
Holliday LF
Berkman RF
Jay CF
Molina C
Descalso SS
Carpenter P
Rafael Furcal is out for his third straight game, after spraining his thumb on Saturday in Chicago.
Monday night's 5:15 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Prime Ticket. For more news and information about the Dodgers, be sure to read True Blue LA.
The Los Angeles Dodgers continue their beer stadium road trip with a three-game series beginning Monday night against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. This would be a time to catch up with old friend Rafael Furcal, traded to St. Louis on July 31, but the shortstop is injured. It is unknown if Furcal will play Monday, or during this series.
Furcal tripped at Wrigley Field before Saturday's game and severely sprained his thumb. Furcal missed 62 games this season on two disabled list stints with the Dodgers. "I was feeling good about getting in there every day, doing some things to help the team, and this happens," Furcal told Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Furcal missed games on Saturday and Sunday, and his return is unknown.
Rookie Nathan Eovaldi will start for the Dodgers, and it will likely be one of his last starts of the season. Eovaldi has thrown 120 innings between Double A and the majors, after throwing 85 innings in 2010. The plan to limit his innings means a trip to the bullpen to round out the season in September. Eovaldi is 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA in three starts with the Dodgers this season.
Chris Carpenter is 8-8 with a 3.68 ERA this season for the Cardinals, and takes the hill in the opener. In his last 11 starts, Carpenter is 7-1 with a 2.71 ERA and is averaging more than seven innings per start. St. Louis has lost three of their last four series and is 5-7 in their last 12 games. The Cardinals begin play Monday eight and a half games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central.
Monday night's 5:15 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Prime Ticket. For more news and information about the Dodgers, be sure to read True Blue LA.
Matt Holliday Injury Report: Moth In Ear
by Avinash Kunnath
Yes, you're reading that right.
The Cardinals lost to the Dodgers tonight. Not sure if Holliday would have had any impact, but the Brewers might have to erect a statue to that moth if they go onto win the NL Central. Or at least name a hot dog after it.
Aug 22 11:47p