The Los Angeles Dodgers uncharacteristically struggled with runners in scoring position for a second consecutive night and it resulted in a 4-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. After winning their first three series, the Dodgers at best will split four games at Busch Stadium.
While the Dodgers regularly came up empty with a key hit, Yadier Molina delivered a pair of two-out doubles for the Cardinals. He put St. Louis ahead in the bottom of the first inning with what appeared to be a two-run double.
The Dodgers challenged the call and it was overturned a ground-rule double, which took a run off the board. Ross Stripling then retired Dexter Fowler to keep the deficit at 1-0.
Molina made up for his semi-missed opportunity in the third inning by roping a two-run double down the left-field line to extend the Cardinals’ lead to 3-0. Paul Goldschmidt’s solo home run in the fifth put the Dodgers in a bigger hole.
The Dodgers certainly had their share of chances throughout the night, including in the first inning when singles by Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger put runners at the corners with one out. Dakota Hudson escaped the threat by striking out A.J. Pollock and Max Muncy.
Walks by Joc Pederson and Turner set the table for Bellinger, only for his line drive to be snagged for an inning-ending double play. Bellinger finished the night xx-for-xx with a double.
The Dodgers had another look at the game in the fourth inning, but needing Stripling to provide some length for a taxed bullpen, he hit for himself with the bases loaded and struck out. L.A. loaded the bases again in the fifth, which prompted a pitching change for the Cardinals.
John Brebbia kept the Dodgers off scoreboard by striking out Kiké Hernandez. The Dodgers went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded 13 in their shutout loss.
