The Dodgers opened their “second half” with a lackluster game, more reminiscent of the previous six regular seasons in St. Louis, as the Cardinals drubbed the Dodgers 7-1 in the first game of a four-game set. Coming into the game, the Dodgers had won six straight games against the Cardinals, including last year’s playoffs, but have now lost 18 of their last 22 games in St. Louis.
Clayton Kershaw walked the first two batters of the game, and it was downhill from there. He was unable to last through the fifth inning, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. He also had a career-low one strikeout, the first time in 70 career starts he hasn’t struck out at least two batters.
Chris Carpenter was a bit more efficient than Kershaw, allowing just one run in his eight innings of work, throwing 101 pitches. In his last six regular season starts against the Dodgers, Carpenter has allowed just four runs in 44 innings, for a paltry 0.82 ERA.