The Los Angeles Dodgers dropped their third straight game to the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing 18 hits to the red birds in a 7-4 loss at Busch Stadium. With the loss the Dodgers dropped to three games back in the National League West.
Chris Capuano (10-6) allowed six runs and 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings, suffering his sixth loss of the season. Four of those runs came in the fifth inning, when the Cardinals had seven consecutive batters reach base, including five hits.
The Dodgers rallied for four runs in the fifth inning, briefly taking a lead, with five straight hits of their own, but Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook (9-8) was still able to last seven innings for the win. St. Louis starters have pitched at least six innings for each of their last 21 games.
Hanley Ramirez was 1-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base in his second game as a Dodger.
Matt Holliday homered for the Cardinals, his 17th of the season.
The Dodgers move on, concluding their 10-game road trip with a weekend series in San Francisco against the Giants. The Dodgers will face Matt Cain, but their own starter hasn't yet been announced. It is expected to be either Allen Webster or Stephen Fife.
For more on the Dodgers, check out True Blue LA. For all the latest on the Cardinals, be sure to read than Viva El Birdos and SB Nation St. Louis.
